Dubai Chef Loses Dh 10,000 in Dating Scam on Bumble Date

A 39-year-old chef based in Dubai fell victim to a scam during a date arranged through the dating app Bumble, resulting in a loss of Dh 10,000 (approximately Rs 2.40 lakh). The individual, identified as Blake, connected with a woman from Russia on September 19, 2023, and they quickly moved their conversation to WhatsApp.

Following their initial exchange, the woman invited Blake to meet her at a bar in Business Bay that same evening. “It was too quick, but I wasn’t complaining. We agreed to meet at 9:30 PM, and when I arrived, she was already waiting,” Blake recounted. The evening progressed with drinks, but soon the woman expressed hunger and ordered a platter of fruits and salmon, which surprised Blake given the circumstances.

Approximately half an hour into their date, a couple approached their table with bouquets, encouraging Blake to purchase them for his date. “I grudgingly agreed. When the bill arrived, I nearly fell off my chair. Dh 9,800, including Dh 500 for that miserable bouquet,” he shared with Khaleej Times.

As Blake attempted to pay the bill, his UAE bank card was declined. He spent nearly an hour trying to settle the account via a Revolut transfer. “I even asked if she had any money, but she just shook her head,” he said. After the payment was finally completed, the woman expressed no remorse, stated that she wanted to go home, and left abruptly.

The following day, she sent Blake a message thanking him for the evening and suggesting they meet again. He declined her invitation and subsequently blocked her. Realizing he had been scammed, Blake discovered an investigative report that detailed similar dating scams, confirming the pattern he had experienced.

After the incident, Blake returned to the bar to confront the management. When he threatened to report them, they offered him a partial refund. “If the bill was legitimate, why would the management offer a refund?” he questioned.

Reports from other victims indicate that similar scams have occurred at the same venue. One long-term resident of Dubai recounted a similar experience involving a woman he met on Bumble, who ordered platters, drinks, and shisha amounting to thousands of dirhams. “When I tried to leave, security followed me. The manager shoved a Dh 2,750 bill at me and said, ‘If you’re leaving, you settle this.’ After a heated argument, I agreed to pay Dh 670. The manager then claimed the woman had ‘bank transferred’ the rest without showing proof,” he stated, adding that he reported the incident to Dubai Police.

This troubling trend highlights the risks associated with online dating, particularly in high-density urban areas where individuals may exploit others for financial gain. As more people turn to dating apps, it is essential to remain vigilant and cautious during in-person meetings, especially in unfamiliar environments.