‘Dating experience’ scam targets young singles across city

Ahmedabad: A new-age cyberfraud aimed at young singles is quietly spreading across the city, leaving victims financially cheated and emotionally embarrassed. Masquerading as organizers of curated "date experiences", fraudsters are using WhatsApp and Telegram groups to lure individuals with offers ranging from movie dates to luxury getaway trips, only to vanish after collecting payments. Sources say these groups promote "movie date" packages priced at about Rs 2,000, promising a multiplex ticket, snacks and the company of a "mystery partner". Victims are told they will be added to a private group shortly before the show to coordinate the meeting. However, on reaching the venue, they find no such group exists and the organizer becomes unreachable. In a more elaborate variant, scammers offer "outdoor date experiences" to destinations like Mount Abu or Udaipur, with packages costing between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000. These deals claim to include hotel bookings, drinks, and curated social activities. Victims who transfer the advance later discover that no reservations were made, and the contact numbers have been switched off. A 24-year-old man from Gandhinagar said he waited outside a multiplex for over an hour after paying Rs 2,000. "They assured me I would get details before the show, but no group was formed. Calls went unanswered," he said. Similarly, a 27-year-old woman from Ahmedabad recounted losing Rs 9,500 for a Mount Abu trip. "There was no hotel booking. It was humiliating to explain to friends," she said. Cybercrime experts note that such scams exploit the growing culture of app-based dating and the reluctance of victims to report incidents due to social stigma. Officials admit the lack of formal complaints has made it difficult to gauge the scale of the fraud, though informal accounts suggest dozens have been duped in recent weeks. The Modus Operandi Fraudsters operate through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, projecting themselves as event organizers offering "exclusive" dating experiences They use catchy, informal language and emojis to attract young users and create a sense of credibility Offers include movie dates with strangers and premium trips with "mystery partners" Victims are promised access to a private group where they can connect with their assigned partner before the event Payments are collected through QR codes or digital transfers, often with a sense of urgency to secure a "slot" To build trust, scammers sometimes make brief voice calls or engage in casual conversations Once payment is made, all communication stops The scam thrives on victims' hesitation to file complaints, allowing fraudsters to operate across multiple groups and continue targeting new individuals