Dating-app pub scam allegations resurface in Hyderabad

An alleged dating app scam in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills has reportedly swindled a man of ₹28,000 at a pub.

An alleged pub scam linked to dating apps has surfaced once again in Hyderabad, with a man alleging that he was duped of over ₹28,000 during a brief meeting at a different pub, prompting a probe by the Jubilee Hills police.

According to the complaint received on Friday (March 21, 2026), the victim said he matched with a woman on Tinder who asked to meet near Peddamma Gudi Metro Station. After meeting, she allegedly took him to Night Owl Club and Kitchen, where, within minutes, expensive drinks were ordered and the bill escalated to over ₹28,000 despite the interaction lasting only a short while.

Jubilee Hills Police Inspector U. Srinivasulu Reddy confirmed that a complaint was received and said a preliminary inquiry was underway to ascertain the facts, including the possible role of the pub and to identify those involved. This, however, is not the sole case. Several similar accounts have surfaced online.

“Matched with a girl on Tinder. She said she’s new to the city and asked me to meet near Peddamma Gudi Metro Station for drinks. After meeting, she directly took me to Night Owl Club and Kitchen (even though she claimed she didn’t know the city). Within minutes, she ordered Dalmore whisky (~₹3000) and pushed me to order the same. Huge red flag. When I tried to leave, she kept stopping me — telling me to order there, arrange money, even trying to distract me by getting physically close,” said a user on Reddit.

Another user, who identified himself as Sreedhar Rao on Google, said, “I met a woman on a dating app who repeatedly insisted we meet at this pub. After we sat down, she started ordering continuously: Dalmore whisky (60 ml) four times, Red Bull, cheese balls, crispy corn, orange juice, and a packet of cigarettes. The total bill shown to me was ₹15,875,” said the user.

The allegations bear resemblance to the high-profile ‘Mosh Pub’ scam unearthed by Cyberabad police in June 2024. In that case, a gang of seven was arrested who targeted men via dating apps, taking them to the pub in Hyderabad where inflated bills were generated for low-cost beverages passed off as premium liquor.