Online dating scam on the rise; How to prevent yourself from being a victim

In a digitally connected world, searching for love online has become increasingly popular. However, this trend also comes with risks, leading to the rise of online dating scams.

A recent incident involved a civil service aspirant preparing for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), who lost Rs 1.2 lakh to a dating scam. The victim met someone named Versha on Tinder. They arranged to meet in person at the Black Mirror Cafe in East Delhi’s Vikas Marg area to celebrate Versha’s birthday. An FIR has been filed with the Delhi Police, who have since arrested the accused and seized the café’s register.