Fake identities, pics, dates: How a gang duped lonely men for 3 yrs

Gang members lured unsuspecting men into dates via popular apps, then defrauded them via inflated bills

- Megha Sood

When 52-year-old F Shaikh (name changed to protect identity) matched with a certain Priya Singh on a dating app in late April, he was elated. Though married for nearly three decades, he was desperate for company as his wife was busy running the family and caring for their children, with little time or appetite for conversations and intimacy that could satisfy his desires.

In early May, as Shaikh made his way to a bar in Borivli, his mind raced ahead to things he hoped to tell Singh, who appeared gorgeous from her photos on the app. She was already present at the hotel when he reached, and their meeting proceeded as he had hoped they ordered some food and drinks, spoke about what they liked, and made plans for meeting again soon. Then, a waiter brought in a bill of ₹40,000, which rankled Shaikh.

The bill was definitely inflated, he thought, as he tried to reason with the waiter. Only to find that he was surrounded by bouncers who threatened to inform his wife about his 'scandalous activities'.

The threat worked and Shaikh paid ₹40,000, but was left nursing his guilt and the feeling that he had been cheated. Till he received a call from the MHB Colony police station earlier this month, saying he had been entrapped by an interstate gang that lured lonely men in big cities into dates and duped them via inflated bills.

"I just wanted some company but ended up paying ₹40,000 when the bouncers threatened to call my wife," he told the police after they managed to persuade him to record a statement.

"I did not report the matter to the police earlier as I was embarrassed," the 52-year-old told police officers. "But when I realised that many others had been duped similarly, I thought why not, if it helps bring the perpetrators to book."

The ringleaders

• Mohsin Salim and Farhan Shaikh alleged ring leaders of the gang, are from Alkapuri in Delhi.