Dating apps are increasingly being exploited as a platform for online fraud, with a new scam warning circulating on social media in Bengaluru. The warning claims that men using dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble are being targeted by scammers posing as women. After establishing contact and agreeing to meet, the alleged scammers reportedly ask their matches to pay a cab fare in advance. Once the money is transferred, the woman allegedly blocks the victim and ends all communication.
The issue came into the spotlight after a post shared on X on August 12 claimed that several men in Bengaluru were being targeted through a similar pattern. However, the viral post does not provide detailed information about specific victims, police complaints or an ongoing investigation. The claim should therefore be viewed as a social media warning rather than a confirmed police finding at this stage.
According to the viral post, the alleged scam begins with what appears to be a normal conversation on a dating app. After matching with a man, the person posing as a woman reportedly agrees to meet in person. The conversation then shifts toward transportation, with the alleged scammer claiming that she needs to travel by cab and that the fare must be paid before the journey.
The request may then be made more convincing by asking the victim to transfer the money directly to the driver. The alleged reason could be that she does not feel comfortable sharing her payment details with someone she has only recently met online. This approach can make the payment request appear connected to a genuine travel arrangement.
The scammers are also alleged to use fabricated or altered booking information to make the request appear legitimate. Such information may include the claimed fare, driver’s name, vehicle details or other trip-related information. Once the victim transfers the money, the alleged woman reportedly stops responding and blocks him on the dating app or messaging platform.
Although individual requests may involve relatively small amounts, repeated fraud of this nature can generate significant financial gains for scammers. The incident also highlights a broader risk associated with online dating, where criminals can exploit emotional trust and the expectation of an in-person meeting to make unusual payment requests appear reasonable.
Users should treat any sudden request for money from a new online match as a major warning sign. Requests involving cab fares, emergency expenses, hotel bookings, gift cards, deposits or other financial assistance before a first meeting should be carefully verified before any payment is made.
Cybersecurity precautions are particularly important when a person met online asks for money to be sent to a bank account, UPI ID or an alleged cab driver’s number. If a cab booking is claimed to be genuine, users should independently verify it through the official application or website of the relevant transportation service rather than relying on screenshots, messages or links provided by the match.
Users should also avoid sharing banking credentials, card details, OTPs, passwords or other sensitive information with people they have recently met online. A first meeting should preferably take place in a public location, and individuals should remain cautious if a new match becomes insistent about immediate payment.
The authenticity of every detail in a viral social media post cannot be established solely from the post itself. However, the alleged pattern reflects a familiar principle of online fraud: scammers often create a sense of urgency or trust before asking victims to make payments.
Anyone using dating apps should therefore avoid sending money to an online match simply because a meeting has been arranged. Verifying the identity of the person, independently checking travel arrangements and refusing unexpected payment requests can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to such scams. If a suspicious transaction has already taken place, the victim should immediately contact the concerned bank or payment service and report the incident through the appropriate cybercrime reporting mechanism.
