A civil service aspirant in Delhi fell victim to a meticulously orchestrated scam after matching with a woman named Versha on Tinder. What began as a promising date at a cafe quickly turned sinister when he was coerced into paying an exorbitant bill of ₹1.2 lakh.
The unsuspecting victim arrived at Black Mirror Cafe in East Delhi’s Vikas Marg area to celebrate Versha’s birthday. After ordering snacks, cakes, and non-alcoholic drinks, the woman abruptly left citing a family emergency. When the man requested the bill, he was shocked to find it amounted to ₹1,21,917.70, far beyond the reasonable cost of their meal. Threatened and confined, he was compelled to transfer the sum to one of the cafe’s owners, Akshay Pahwa.Upon escaping the cafe, the victim reported the incident to the police, leading to an investigation that uncovered a complex web of deceit. The cafe, co-owned by Akshay Pahwa along with Ansh Grover and Vansh Pahwa, employed tactics involving fake profiles on dating apps. Aryan, a key player in the scam, posed as Versha online and coordinated the elaborate scheme, targeting unsuspecting men for financial exploitation.Further revelations from the investigation exposed the distribution of proceeds: 15% to Afsan Parveen (alias Ayesha or Noor), 45% to table and cafe managers, and 40% to the owners. This modus operandi was not isolated but part of a widespread operation across major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
The case highlights the vulnerability of individuals navigating online dating platforms and the extent to which organized schemes exploit social interactions for financial gain. With arrests made and investigations ongoing, authorities are working to dismantle such operations and bring justice to victims affected by these fraudulent practices. The incident underscores the importance of vigilance and caution in online interactions, urging greater awareness and safeguards against digital deception.
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