Dating Scams, Marital Frauds and Legal Extortion: A Growing Threat to Men and Women in India

The rise of online dating and matrimonial platforms has opened new avenues for connection, but it has also given rise to sophisticated scams and legal extortion schemes that exploit trust and vulnerability. Cases like those of Athul Subhash, Manu Sharma, and the recent Bengaluru techie targeted in a Bumble honeytrap expose a dark underbelly of deceit, manipulation, and systemic bias that disproportionately harms men, though women are also at risk. These incidents highlight the need for heightened awareness and vigilance to combat love frauds, dating scams, gold-digging honeytraps, and what some call “legal terrorism.”

The Bengaluru Bumble Extortion Case

A Bengaluru techie’s first date turned into a nightmare when a woman named Sangeetha, met through Bumble, lured him into a private room after a coffee shop meeting. Four men barged in, staging a fake drug raid with baking soda, falsely accusing him of drug involvement. Sangeetha played her part, feigning distress and threatening suicide, while the gang extorted ₹2 lakh after initially demanding ₹15 lakh. The techie, shaken, reported the incident, leading to the arrest of six individuals: Sangeetha Sahni, Sharanabasappa Baliger, Raju Maane, Shyam Sundar Pande, Abhishek, and Beerabal Majjagi. Sangeetha, a former bar dancer posing as a business analyst, was part of a planned racket. Police suspect the gang targeted multiple victims, emphasizing the calculated nature of such scams.

Athul Subhash: A Victim of Legal Extortion

Athul Subhash, a 34-year-old Bengaluru-based auto executive, took his life in December 2024, leaving behind a detailed suicide note and video accusing his in-laws and the legal system of relentless harassment. Subhash alleged that his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family demanded ₹3 crore to withdraw false legal cases and ₹30 lakh for visitation rights to his son. He faced eight allegedly fabricated police complaints and claimed bias from a family court judge in Uttar Pradesh. His brother, Bikas Kumar, filed a complaint, resulting in abetment-to-suicide charges against Nikita, her mother Nisha, brother Anurag, and uncle Sushil Singhania. Subhash’s case has sparked outrage, with many on platforms like X calling it a stark example of “legal terrorism,” where dowry and domestic violence laws are misused to extort men, driving them to despair.

Manu Sharma and Systemic Bias

While less detailed information is available about Manu Sharma in this context, posts on X and public sentiment suggest he represents another case of a man ensnared in a web of false accusations and legal battles, often tied to marital disputes or dowry allegations. Such cases reflect a broader pattern where men face financial and emotional extortion, with legal systems allegedly enabling or failing to scrutinize baseless claims. The lack of specific details about Sharma’s case underscores a common issue: many victims hesitate to come forward due to stigma or fear of further harassment, leaving the true scale of such scams underreported.

The Broader Pattern: Love Frauds and Legal Terrorism

These cases reveal a disturbing trend of love frauds and legal extortion:

• Dating Scams: Fraudsters, often posing as romantic partners, use platforms like Bumble, Tinder, or matrimonial sites to build trust before executing honeytraps. Tactics include fake drug busts, as in the Bengaluru case, or blackmail via explicit content, as seen in a Delhi gang busted for using fake dating profiles.
• Gold-Digging Honeytraps: Individuals, sometimes in collusion with accomplices, exploit romantic or marital relationships to extract money, property, or favors, often under the guise of emotional manipulation or fabricated crises.
• Legal Terrorism: The misuse of laws like Section 498A (anti-dowry) or domestic violence provisions to file false complaints against men, often to extort money or gain leverage in disputes. Athul Subhash’s suicide note explicitly called out such systemic abuse, alleging courts and police enabled his harassers.

Women, too, face risks in the dating and marital market. For instance, a 2019 case in Delhi saw Meenu Jain robbed and murdered by someone she met online, showing that scams can target any gender. However, public discourse, especially on platforms like X, highlights a perception that men are disproportionately victimized by legal extortion due to biased laws and societal assumptions.

Awareness and Prevention Tips

To protect against love frauds, dating scams, and legal extortion, young men and women should:

1. Verify Identities: Use reverse image searches, check social media profiles, and cross-reference details to confirm a person’s identity before meeting or committing.
2. Meet in Public: Always choose public, well-lit locations for initial dates to minimize the risk of staged incidents like the Bengaluru fake drug raid.
3. Be Cautious with Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like addresses, financial information, or compromising content early in relationships.
4. Document Interactions: Keep records of conversations, especially on dating apps or matrimonial platforms, to provide evidence if disputes arise.
5. Report Suspicious Behavior: Immediately report scams or extortion attempts to the police, as the Bengaluru techie did, to aid investigations and prevent further victims.
6. Seek Legal Advice: In marital disputes, consult a lawyer early to understand rights and protections, especially against false accusations.
7. Raise Awareness: Join or support groups like the “Bros2 Healthify Life Group” on WhatsApp to share experiences and learn from others. [Link provided by user]

A Call for Systemic Change

The cases of Athul Subhash, Manu Sharma, and the Bengaluru techie underscore the need for systemic reforms. Authorities must scrutinize complaints under laws like Section 498A to prevent misuse while ensuring genuine victims are protected. Bengaluru City Police’s swift action in the Bumble case is a positive step, but broader measures are needed, including:

• Stricter Oversight of Dating Platforms: Apps like Bumble should enhance user verification to curb fake profiles.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate young people about red flags in online and marital relationships.
• Judicial Reforms: Address allegations of bias in family courts to ensure fair hearings for all parties.

Conclusion

The stories of Sangeetha’s honeytrap, Athul Subhash’s tragic end, and others like Manu Sharma reveal a grim reality: trust in love and marriage is being weaponized for profit and power. While Bengaluru City Police and other authorities are cracking down on such crimes, individuals must stay vigilant, and society must push for a balanced legal system that protects without enabling extortion. Only through awareness, caution, and reform can we curb these shameful scams and ensure justice for all victims, regardless of gender.