A Delhi man’s account of spending ₹20,500 on what was supposed to be his first date has gone viral on social media, with several internet users identifying it as a suspected dating app scam that has reportedly become common in the Delhi-NCR region.
According to a Reddit post, the man matched with a woman on a dating app and, after chatting for a while, agreed to meet her the same day. Instead of a casual outing, the woman suggested visiting a pub, where she allegedly placed multiple expensive orders throughout the evening.
The man claimed he does not drink alcohol or smoke. Despite that, his date reportedly ordered premium champagne, hookah and food, pushing the final bill to ₹20,500.
While the financial loss was significant, the Reddit user said the experience itself left a bigger impression. He wrote that he was disappointed that his date neither offered to split the bill nor discussed the expenses. He also mentioned that she was away from the table when the bill arrived but stopped short of accusing her of intentionally avoiding payment.
The post quickly gained attention online, with many commenters saying the incident resembled a pattern seen in several alleged dating app scams. In such cases, fraudsters reportedly lure victims to specific restaurants, pubs or cafés where inflated bills are generated, often in coordination with the establishment.
Several users advised people to exercise caution when meeting someone for the first time through dating platforms. They recommended choosing public places independently, avoiding venues suggested insistently by strangers, and discussing payment expectations beforehand to avoid unpleasant surprises.
The viral post has also reignited discussions around online dating safety, with users urging people to stay alert for red flags and verify meeting locations before agreeing to a date.
