Hyderabad: A new clandestine operation involving pub owners and dating apps came to light when a man fell victim to a woman, whom he met through a dating app. Reportedly, pub owners, in collaboration with women, are luring businessmen through dating apps and extorting money from them.
In the latest instance, a man was trapped and forced to shell out Rs 40,505 in a pub located at Gachibowli.
Suspecting that something was amiss on seeing the bill, he checked Google reviews of the pub and found similar complaints from other victims.
The victim ‘met’ one Ritika on a dating app. After striking an initial conversation, Ritika proposed a personal meeting at the Hitech City metro station. After they met, she took him to Mosh Club, situated on the fourth floor of a building.
At the club, Ritika was at her cordial best while ordering expensive drinks. The bill came to a staggering Rs 40,505. The transaction raised the victim’s suspicion as the payment was directed to an HDFC Bank account in Delhi, despite the establishment being in Hyderabad.
Upon discovering discrepancies, the man researched the club online and stumbled upon numerous negative reviews implicating it in fraudulent activities.
Madhapur inspector G. Mallesh told Deccan Chronicle that no official complaint had been lodged. “We came to know of the incident when we were approached by some reporters. The pub in question was reportedly closed according to its owner. There is every reason to believe that some middlemen might be involved in this scam. We are open to investigate the matter, provided someone comes and lodges a complaint against the outlet,” he said.
