Crime / Kolkata’s Dating App 'Girlfriend' Will Make You Think Thousand Times Before Swiping Right
·4 months ago·3 min read
Key Points
- Kolkata Police issued a safety advisory after a chartered accountant was murdered following a dating app meeting.
- Investigations reveal multiple recent cases of blackmail, extortion and fraud linked to dating apps across Kolkata.
- Police warn users against sharing personal or banking details and advise avoiding valuables during meetings.
Kolkata, Nov 27: In the age of swipe-right romance, dating apps promise instant connection. However, what happened in Kolkata is a chilling reminder that one wrong match can cost far more than heartbreak. The shocking murder of a chartered accountant has now prompted Kolkata Police to sound a loud, urgent alarm for all app-driven daters -- especially men.
The police issued a detailed advisory on Thursday, packed with dos and don’ts, for anyone meeting someone they’ve befriended through dating apps. The warning came after chartered accountant Adarsh Losalka was found dead in a Kasba hotel room earlier this week.
Investigators say Losalka was killed after refusing to pay Rs 20,000 to a woman he had met on a dating app and resisting a robbery attempt. The woman -- along with her male accomplice -- was arrested within a day. During interrogation, they confessed to routinely blackmailing and extorting men using the guise of online “friendship”.
Police sources have revealed that this incident is not an isolated case. Over recent months, a string of blackmail and fraud cases linked to dating apps has surfaced across Kolkata and its adjoining districts, with several victims losing large sums of money.
The advisory warns users to avoid sharing bank details, personal information, or phone passwords with short-term acquaintances. Officers emphasised that gangs -- often comprising both men and women -- actively scout for “clients” through dating profiles to target them for financial fraud.
Kolkata Police also advised that even if someone decides to meet a dating app match at a hotel or private spot, they must avoid carrying valuables or ATM cards, and ensure that PINs or passcodes are not visible while using their phones.
A senior police officer said, “People need to be extremely cautious while dealing with individuals met through such apps. One should always assume that the person on the screen may not be the same in real life.”
Last month, the Cyber Crime Police Station busted an illegal call centre near Minto Park, arresting 17 people -- 16 of them women -- who allegedly posed as potential romantic partners to extort money from unsuspecting men.
Also Read: Odisha Intensifies Drive against Sand Mafia and Illegal Mining
In another recent case, a woman identified as Ankita Apte allegedly drugged a businessman she met on a dating app, stole his gold ornaments while he was unconscious, and vanished from a hotel in East Jadavpur.
The police issued a detailed advisory on Thursday, packed with dos and don’ts, for anyone meeting someone they’ve befriended through dating apps. The warning came after chartered accountant Adarsh Losalka was found dead in a Kasba hotel room earlier this week.
Investigators say Losalka was killed after refusing to pay Rs 20,000 to a woman he had met on a dating app and resisting a robbery attempt. The woman -- along with her male accomplice -- was arrested within a day. During interrogation, they confessed to routinely blackmailing and extorting men using the guise of online “friendship”.
Police sources have revealed that this incident is not an isolated case. Over recent months, a string of blackmail and fraud cases linked to dating apps has surfaced across Kolkata and its adjoining districts, with several victims losing large sums of money.
The advisory warns users to avoid sharing bank details, personal information, or phone passwords with short-term acquaintances. Officers emphasised that gangs -- often comprising both men and women -- actively scout for “clients” through dating profiles to target them for financial fraud.
Kolkata Police also advised that even if someone decides to meet a dating app match at a hotel or private spot, they must avoid carrying valuables or ATM cards, and ensure that PINs or passcodes are not visible while using their phones.
A senior police officer said, “People need to be extremely cautious while dealing with individuals met through such apps. One should always assume that the person on the screen may not be the same in real life.”
Last month, the Cyber Crime Police Station busted an illegal call centre near Minto Park, arresting 17 people -- 16 of them women -- who allegedly posed as potential romantic partners to extort money from unsuspecting men.
Also Read: Odisha Intensifies Drive against Sand Mafia and Illegal Mining
In another recent case, a woman identified as Ankita Apte allegedly drugged a businessman she met on a dating app, stole his gold ornaments while he was unconscious, and vanished from a hotel in East Jadavpur.
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