Following mid-day’s in-depth investigative series last year, and our report on Thursday, that exposed a rising racket of scams operated through dating apps, Maharashtra Cyber has taken decisive steps to alert and educate the public.
Recognising the scale and impact of the fraud, Maharashtra Cyber launched a public awareness campaign featuring Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel. The campaign includes a video message warning users about a growing trend where individuals are lured through dating platforms and then defrauded at selected clubs and lounges. The video has been widely circulated across social media platforms, including the official X handle of Maharashtra Cyber, garnering strong public and law enforcement attention.
The screen grab of the viral tweet of the Maharashtra Cyber featuring the actor
According to sources, the dating scam first came to light last year in Mumbai and later in cities such as Thane, Pune, Delhi, and Navi Mumbai. The modus operandi involved women posing as genuine users on popular dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, QuackQuack, Happn, and 3Fun, among others. After striking up conversations with unsuspecting men, they would invite them on dates and escort them to specific clubs linked to the racket.
Once inside, the women would order expensive food, alcohol, and hookah without prior discussion. When the inflated bill, often running into tens of thousands of rupees, arrived, the woman would quietly vanish. The men were then pressured by the club staff and bouncers to settle the full amount. A sting operation by mid-day uncovered that many of these women were allegedly working in collusion with club owners, managers, and staff — forming a well-oiled network targeting victims via dating platforms.
The exposé led to multiple FIRs, police raids, and arrests. Maharashtra Cyber`s latest intervention — through digital outreach — marks a critical step in building awareness and urging caution among dating app users across the state. The awareness video features Ameesha Patel dressed as a police officer, delivering a powerful warning. Speaking in Hindi, she outlines how the scam plays out and urges viewers to call the helpline number 1945 if they fall victim to such fraud. The message is clear: don’t panic, don’t pay, and don’t share personal details.
What voiceover from Ameesha Patel’s video says
>> “There was a match on Tinder…
>> Some chatting happened…
>> Then she said, ‘Let’s meet tonight at a club.’
>> You thought it was just a fun night out.
>> But when you reached the club, everything was fake—
>> Exorbitant bills, aggressive demands… and she vanished.
>> Her job was to trap you.
>> The club was part of the scam.
>> This wasn’t love. It wasn’t friendship.
>> It was a planned fraud.
>> If you ever face such a scam,
>> don’t pay, don’t share your details.
>> Call 1945.
>> Your money is yours.
>> Maharashtra Cyber stands with you.”
Special IGP of the Maharashtra Cyber Department stated, “In light of the increasing number of cyber fraud cases, Maharashtra Cyber Police regularly shares awareness videos on various social media platforms to educate citizens about ongoing scams. This video featuring Ameesha Patel is one such effort to reach maximum people and help them avoid falling into the trap of cyber fraud.”
