Women ‘scam’ dates with pricey bills in Hitech City’s E Galleria; victims suspect pubs

Hyderabad: A recent spate of dating scams in Hyderabad has come to light, with multiple men reporting similar experiences of being financially exploited by women they met on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble.

The modus operandi involves luring men to high-end clubs, especially the Mosh Club in E Galleria mall, and running up exorbitant bills, which the victims are then forced to pay.

An expensive night at Mosh Club

Victim 1 shared his ordeal involving a woman named Ritika. He said they matched on Tinder and she suggested meeting at the Hitech City metro station. From there, she led him to Mosh Club on the fourth floor of Galleria Mall.

“She ordered only expensive drinks with fire shots, making the bill around Rs 40,508,” he recounted speaking to Newsmeter.

He noted that the payments he made were to an account in Delhi, which raised further suspicions. “The entry fee was Rs 500 and only my details were taken, not hers,” he added. He also expressed doubts about the authenticity of the drinks, stating, “She showed no signs of intoxication even after consuming multiple shots.”

A staggering bill at Attitude Club & Lounge

Victim 2 was scammed out of Rs 16,000.

After matching on Tinder, they met at the Hitech Metro Station and proceeded to Attitude Club & Lounge. The lady ordered several expensive drinks, resulting in a total bill of 16,000.

“It was my first time at any club or bar, so I thought it must be normal,” he said to Newsmeter. Upon researching the club on Google Maps, he discovered numerous similar complaints, confirming his suspicion of being scammed.

Deception at Mosh Pub Again

The third victim shared a similar experience at Mosh Pub. After meeting at the Hitech City metro station, the woman led him to the fourth floor of Galleria Mall.

“She ordered multiple rounds of expensive drinks and food without allowing me to check the menu,” he recalled. “My bill soon escalated to Rs 24,000.”

He further explained, “Attempts to pay through Zomato were denied by the pub management, which made me suspect it was a coordinated scam.”

Modus operandi

The pattern observed in these cases reveals a systematic approach:

- The scammers initiate contact through dating apps.

- They quickly arrange to meet in person.

- They claim to be makeup artists who recently moved to Hyderabad and are looking for company.

- Upon meeting, they lead the victims to specific clubs.

- They order the most expensive drinks, often without showing the menu to the victim.

- The victims are left with bills amounting to thousands of rupees.

- The women do not contribute to the payment and leave the men to cover the entire bill.

Questionable Practices of the clubs involved

The clubs identified in these scams include Mosh Club, Attitude Club & Lounge, and The Devil’s Night Club, all located on the fourth floor of Galleria Mall, near Hitech City Metro Station. Victims have reported payments being directed to accounts in other cities, such as Delhi, further highlighting the questionable nature of these establishments.

Response from authorities

"The repeated and similar nature of these incidents indicates a well-organized scam targeting unsuspecting individuals. We urge potential victims to exercise caution when meeting new people from dating apps and to be vigilant about suspicious activities, not just in clubs but in any setting," said K. Shilpavalli, DCP Cyber crime - Cyberabad.

Madhapur Police Uncover Elaborate Scam

Madhapur Police have arrested seven individuals involved in the online dating scam that lured victims through dating apps and duped them at MOSH Pub in Madhapur.

The arrested individuals are Aakash Kumar, Suraj Kumar, Akshat Narula, Tarun, Shiv Raj Nayak, Rohith Kumar, and Cherkupally Sai Kumar, all apprehended in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Operation of DEVILS NIGHT CLUB

Operating under the guise of a club named DEVILS NIGHT CLUB in Delhi, the gang recruited women to register on dating apps and attract customers. However, a gang member would actually be chatting with the victims. Over 45 days, primarily on weekends, the gang duped 50-60 customers, accumulating Rs. 30 lakhs.

Seizures and Arrests

The police seized eight mobile phones and two vehicles—a Thar (DL 12 CX 0147) and a KIA (DL 14 CH 0147)—totaling approximately Rs. 40 lakhs in value. The gang's operation spanned across Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, with plans to extend to Nagpur.

Legal Proceedings

The case has been registered under Cr. No: 633/2024, U/Sec: 406, 419, 420 IPC, at Madhapur Police Station, Cyberabad.