If you swipe right on Tinder and receive an invitation to a date at a nightclub, be cautious: you could end up spending up to Dh10,000. A scheme involving counterfeit Tinder profiles, intermediaries, and nightclubs has been exposed, generating thousands of dirhams nightly. The fraud operates predictably: women with fake profiles engage men on Tinder, Bumble, and other dating apps, entice them to particular nightclubs, order expensive drinks, and then disappear. Customers are left with bills from Dh3,000 to Dh10,000. The scammers subsequently block their victims on WhatsApp and remove their social media profiles.
Insiders in the industry recognize this scam as an extreme form of upselling—a sales strategy where extra products or services are promoted to boost the total bill. In this instance, it's taken to an unethical extreme, capitalizing on customers' trust for significant profits. "It’s clear that these women receive a share for inflating the bills," noted a hospitality expert. "This scam was common in Europe and parts of the Far East but is now spreading to Dubai."
Khaleej Times has examined several cases from high-end bars and nightclubs in Business Bay and Dubai Marina. Our investigation pinpointed nearly six nightclubs and at least two individuals involved—a nightclub manager and a European woman based in Dubai who operates under a fake Tinder profile. A reverse image search of her photo uncovered her identity before she could delete her profile. Multiple Dubai residents confirmed that this woman led them to various bars, only to disappear after accumulating substantial bills.
One case involves Alex, who paid Dh4,300 after being invited to a pub in Business Bay by a woman named Lora, whom he met on Tinder. "She mentioned she was seeking friends after a day of business," Alex recalled. Upon her arrival, she ordered wine and tequila shots, each costing Dh400, and snacks for the nightclub staff, adding nearly Dh650 for fruit and cheese platters. She left to "meet a friend" and never came back. Alex ended up paying a total of €1,062. The bill amounts are mentioned in euros as they appeared on the notifications of customers who used Euro-based credit cards.
Another man recounted his experience at a nightclub in Business Bay, where a woman consumed excessive amounts of whiskey and tequila. "I’m not exaggerating—it was like water. I’m even worried now if there was any alcohol in those drinks at all!" By the night's end, he received a bill of Dh10,177, about 2,500 euros, for what he considered a modest amount of consumption. "We were there between 9.30 pm and 12 am," he said, insisting there was no way they could’ve consumed enough to accumulate such a bill in such a short time.
Online forums are inundated with similar complaints. One individual was left paying for an expensive shisha ordered by a woman in a hotel lobby, while another lost Dh10,000 to a woman who vanished as soon as the drinks arrived. In another instance, a man was shocked to find a bill for 12 tequila shots he never ordered, totaling Dh7,000. Despite the slim chances of retrieving their money, many hope that sharing their experiences will aid in preventing others from falling into the same snare.
One man managed to reduce his bill to Dh800 after a heated dispute. "At first, they offered me a 50 percent discount, but I didn't yield. They even threatened to call the police, but I held my ground. Eventually, they conceded and accepted Dh800," he said, requesting anonymity. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism declined to comment on the matter.
