Lucknow Police have exposed a robbery network that operated through a dating application, targeting individuals by luring them into meetings under false pretences. So far, five members of the gang, including a minor, have been arrested from different parts of the city.
According to the police, the group used the dating app Grindr to establish contact with victims, build trust over conversations, and then rob them of cash, jewellery, and money transferred through UPI transactions. Following the initial arrests made on Monday, authorities have been actively identifying additional victims in an effort to completely dismantle the network.
The gang’s method of operation involved carefully planned interactions. In one case, a 50-year-old unmarried schoolteacher from the Ghazipur area was targeted. After communicating with the suspects for several days on the app, two individuals visited his residence, where they assaulted and restrained him before stealing approximately ₹3 lakh in cash along with a gold chain.
In another incident on February 25, an event organiser was contacted under the pretext of discussing decoration work. The victim was then taken to the banks of the Gomti River, where he was robbed of his gold chain and cash. He was also coerced into transferring money digitally via UPI.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted to carrying out multiple such crimes using similar tactics. Police officials indicated that such operations are not limited to Lucknow alone but are also active in nearby districts. They further noted that the gang members appeared to be aware of comparable fraud patterns observed internationally.
These findings highlight a growing trend of criminal misuse of dating platforms like Grindr, which are widely used by millions of people globally, raising concerns about user safety and the need for increased vigilance.
