An aspiring civil servant in Delhi became the latest victim of a cunning Tinder scam that cost him ₹1.2 lakh. The victim, eager to celebrate the birthday of a woman he met on Tinder named Versha, met her at the Black Mirror Cafe in Vikas Marg, East Delhi. They ordered snacks, cakes, and non-alcoholic drinks. However, Versha abruptly left, citing a family emergency. When the victim received the bill, he was shocked to see a staggering ₹1,21,917.70 for a meal that should have cost a few thousand rupees. The victim’s protests were met with threats, forcing him to transfer the money online to one of the cafe owners, Akshay Pahwa.
The police investigation revealed that Pahwa, along with Vansh Pahwa and Ansh Grover, own the Black Mirror Cafe. They employ “table managers” to carry out their scams. One such manager, Aryan, a class 7 dropout, was identified as the mastermind behind the Versha persona. Aryan used a one-time-view feature to share Versha’s photo with the victim, luring him to the cafe on June 23rd. The entire team orchestrated the fake family emergency, ensuring a smooth execution of their plan.
The scam’s profits were meticulously divided: 15% went to Versha, 45% was shared amongst the table and cafe managers, and 40% went to the owners. These sophisticated scams have become increasingly common in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Earlier this year, three individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a 28-year-old businessman they met on Tinder five years ago. The police emphasize that men often avoid reporting such incidents due to the stigma associated with dating apps. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world and underscores the need for caution when engaging with strangers online.
