It is reported as on 27.05.25, Throne Lounge at Malad, West on Solitaire Building opp. Maverick Lounge on main link road opp infinity mall is a part of a bigger nationwide scam done through online dating platforms like Tinder and Bumble. The modus operandi of these bars will shock everyone on how smartly they operate and lure innocent men who connect with women through dating apps like Tinder.
To explain in a simpler way, once you subscribe and start using dating app tinder, you will start getting likes (invites by women to connect). Once you are liked by some women, they will chat with you on tinder. Post chat on tinder, whatsapp numbers will be exchanged. After a day or two of chatting, the girl will ask to catch up for a date. The guy will obviously say yes and they will then decide when and where to meet.
So, post that, the girl suggests the guy a place to catch up and even suggest you a restaurant/bar where they can go for a date. Most of the guys would agree on her suggestion and they will go to that restaurant/bar for a date. The moment you enter the bar/restaurant, the girl will start ordering food items and expensive drinks. In fact, she will start ordering so many things which are just unnecessary. Within some time in 20-30 mins or within an hour, the waiter will pop up and tell you sir, your bill is of Rs 20,000 or 30,000 or any random big amount. In many cases, if the guy (victim) is powerful, he will argue how come such a tall bill? And if his argument is valid and tough, the restaurant will come back with a discounted billing reducing 10 or 20%. You (as a victim) will realize the girl has ordered the most expensive drinks that too not once but lot many times and also restaurant has falsely added many things without the consent of the customer (the victim)
The guy who came on date will be stuck as he will have no option but to pay or else he will be thrashed by the staff or his belongings will be taken if he can’t pay the bill or they will threat the victim (guy) that they will file a case on them through the help of the girl. Now the guy will eventually pay the bill. The girl he came with, she will then go to the washroom, in the washroom, a staff of the restaurant will go and give her the commission in cash. Once she comes out of the washroom, the girl will get down with the guy and she will smartly run away, abscond or disappear. If the guy is smart, he will ensure he doesn’t let her abscond and she will come along. While she comes along, she will again throw a tantrum that she is not well or she is getting calls from her home and she will start arguing to leave her or drop her to the nearest metro station.
Like this, hundreds of innocent men across the city with the lure of finding a girlfriend or a life partner through dating platform like tinder gets scammed and looted. These girls are stationed around such bars and lounges 24/7 and in a day they invite atleast 5-6 guys or even more on such dates. At the end of the day, they get a commission per billing from the lounge/bar. The moment she will abscond after the date, in the next few hours, she will be seen again with another guy at the same lounge. Exactly what Throne Lounge in Malad is doing. Even lounge/bars named Godfather in Mira Road, Invincibles Club are amongst the other clubs who are doing similar scams in Mumbai.
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A police case was registered at Malad West Police Station in Mumbai on 27th May, 2025 at 7:30 pm by a victim called Aditya (Victim Name hidden due to safety reasons). When Aditya went to the police station, he realized there are 3 more similar cases registered in last 2 days against the same girl and same Throne Lounge in Malad and no legal action was taken against the lounge despite Malad Police Station being fully aware about the whole scam of fake online dating scam and illegal sale of hookah at throne lounge which is completely banned in Mumbai.
When Aditya went to register the case, the Police Officer asked him what happened with you? And below is the conversation excerpts between him and police officer done in a span of 2hrs between 7:30 pm to 930pm. (everything in hindi)
Officer: What Happened?
Aditya: Sir, a small scam happened with me.
Officer: You only said it’s a small scam, so what’s the big deal?
Aditya: Small for you all but big for me is what I meant.
Officer: Okay, so tell me, what happened?
Aditya: Explaining everything how he connected with a girl on tinder, then she asked for drinks and meet. Then, she took her to lounge where she immediately started ordering expensive drinks and food items. Later on, generating a massive bill which he was forced to pay and then girl getting dissappeared (absconded) the moment they step out of the lounge.
Officer on Call: Calls the lounge owner directly (no formal investigation or complaint taken, the officer already has the number of the Lounge and calls directly and says “Aare kya re, kya chal raha hai, yeh teesra banda aya last 2 din mai, kya chalu hai tumhara, idhar aao aur sort karo”
Officer to Aditya: Wait for sometime, I have called them, we will try and solve this.
Aditya: Okay sir
Officer: Meanwhile, write an application on what has happened to you and give it to me.
Aditya: Brought the application after writing it down.
Officer: Laughing with colleague, aare itna bada likha tune (such a big application you wrote)
Aditya: Sir I am a journalist, I have already lost money and I have nothing to lose, zyada se zyada kya hoga, mera naam bigdega ya do din jail mai rehna padega ya do-teen jhapat khane padenge, utna toh mai kar lunga manage. (sir i got nothing to lose, i already lost my money, what more can be done, my reputation or a few slaps from you or few nights at the jail? i think i can manage that much but i want to file a case.
Other Officer: You don’t worry gentleman, we will try and get a refund for you.
Aditya: But what about the scam which is happening, also what about the scam so many other guys are facing everyday? I just went to that lounge to collect the bill for my proof, that girl is at the same place again with another guy and doing the same thing.
Officer: You want refund or you want justice? First tell me. Because, if you want refund, we will help if you want justice then file a case in consumer court.
Aditya: Okay sir, whatever you will guide I will do.
Aditya: then waits for around 45 mins
Officer: Look, in few mins you will get a gpay from the same number on which you paid the bill.
Aditya: Notifies the officer that he received the partial refund.
Officer: Come to the officer room in the backyard.
Aditya: Reaches the officer room
Officer: Give in writing that your case is resolved and you got refund of your money.
Aditya: Sir, but I only got partial refund.
Officer: Stop behaving like a pimp, do one thing send this amount back and file a case.
Aditya: Okay sir, as you say…
Officer: Don’t act smart, just write it down and finish it off, I am tired working since morning, I need a break.
Aditya: Gives in writing that his issue his resolved and his money has been refunded.
Officer: You can leave.
Aditya: Atleast, I can get a copy of the application and the copy of bill I paid.
Officer: No, now the case is settled so you won’t get the copy of your complaint or bill.
Aditya: Sir, it’s for my record, trust me, what am I going to do after giving you in writing?
Officer: Look you don’t understand, then explains Aditya for 2 mins. After thinking for 2 mins, takes him to the main complaint room and drafts a closure through junior officer.
Aditya: Smartly takes the photo of the bill and complaint application for his proof and requests the lady constable to give her a copy which she promptly and luckily gives it to him and Aditya leaves the police station.
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Throne Lounge Malad has been doing this since quite some time. They recently changed their name to Throne a month ago. Earlier it was operating through other name. The lounge has their own dedicated team right from the owner, waiters, the scam girls who efficiently perform their roles when a victim comes on a date with these women.
In Aditya’s case, Aditya smartly paid the bill realizing he can be beaten up or his belongings can be taken away or the girl can do something wrong with him using the women card. Hence, even after realizing midway through the date, he entertained the girl, paid the whole bill and left. He forgot to collect the bill and went again to the lounge to collect the bill. He offered the manager a solution or else he would be forced to take some action. The lounge did not assist so he directly went to the police station as he had all the necessary proof including the bill copy, gpay upi id screenshot, chat screenshots and other things. What’s more, the girl who was trying to be oversmart told him before leaving, look you are scammed, I am part of the lounge team and I get commission for it. You look like a decent guy so I am telling you, don’t use such tinder apps, you will only find such things there. Get married and find a good woman or else these things will keep happening to you. I got a commission of Rs 1000/– from the lounge for raising your bill of Rs 17,000. What are you crying about!? I have even made guys pay upto lakh or even more and they don’t whine about it. Now I need to go, goodbye.
Through this article, it’s a request to all the young males who are on dating apps to use the app wisely and not get lured by women who quickly agree for dates or ask to go for drinks on the very first date. This article is in matter of public interest and further investigation by journalists will be done followed by a PIL on Tinder alongwith a case in consumer court.
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Reviews of other people who fell victims to this scam:
