Investigators also found that in many cases, the women’s profiles on dating apps were actually handled by men.
Mumbai Date Scam (AI-generated image used for a representation)
A planned “date” in a Saki Naka cafe helped Mumbai Police uncover a well-organised racket that trapped men through dating apps and forced them to pay inflated bills.
Pankaj Yadav, 38, had met a young woman who introduced herself as Mahima after chatting online for a few days. She insisted on moving the conversation to WhatsApp and quickly fixed a meeting. On March 14, he drove from Santacruz to meet her near a metro station in Saki Naka, according to a report by the Indian Express.
The woman suggested a nearby café. Inside, the place was dimly lit and had a separate section for couples. As they sat down, she began ordering drinks—tequila shots one after another—along with snacks and cigarettes. Pankaj, however, only ordered an energy drink.
Rs 18,000 Bill And A Sudden Twist
Within 40 minutes, the café manager approached them with a bill of Rs 18,616 and demanded immediate payment. “Each tequila shot was priced at Rs 3,000. They had charged another thousand bucks for the cigarette pack. Mahima had barely taken out one cigarette from it,” Pankaj was quoted as saying by the outlet..
Sensing something was wrong, Pankaj stalled her when she tried to step out. Moments later, a police team led by Inspector Sushant Bandgar entered the café. “I knew Mahima had not had any drinks. Those tequila shots? Just plain water,” Pankaj said.
Not A Victim, But A Decoy
Pankaj was not a victim, but a decoy. He had teamed up with the police after a friend told him about a similar scam. “He told me he was duped by this gang who targeted people through dating apps. He was threatened and blackmailed inside the café,” Pankaj said.
With help from his NGO, he tracked suspicious patterns on dating apps. “We knew that whenever anybody (on the app) insisted on meeting immediately, especially in Saki Naka near the metro station, she is most likely part of this racket,” he said.
Police Raid Uncovers Pattern
During the raid, police found another man from Thane being threatened to pay ₹25,000. Investigations revealed a clear pattern—men were lured through dating apps, pushed to WhatsApp, and asked to meet at the same café where women placed large orders and victims were forced to pay.
Police later confirmed the drinks were fake. “We tested it. It was all water,” an officer said.
Delhi Link And Modus Operandi
Further probe showed the racket was run by two alleged masterminds from Delhi, who coordinated with women brought to Mumbai. Shockingly, in many cases, men posed as women on dating apps to trap victims.
“One of them (the gang members), Kushwaha, is an expert in dating app chats. It was him who, posing as a girl on the apps, identified the target and set up the date. It was only when the victim would agree to meet in Saki Naka that a girl was brought into the picture. She was given all the details of the target and asked to follow the plan,’’ a police officer said.
How The Racket Operated
“The racket operated cleverly. As soon as the person agreed to meet, they immediately shifted the conversation to WhatsApp, unmatching the person on the dating app to erase chat evidence,” Pankaj said.
Police have registered a case against 13 people and arrested 11 so far. Officials believe many more victims may be involved.
Not Just A Scam
Calling it a calculated system, Pankaj said, “This is not just a scam. It is a system built on psychology, timing, and trust. A system where loneliness was the entry point… and manipulation was the weapon.”
April 16, 2026, 23:35 IST
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