Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Judge’s Tinder scam shows one thing. Shame is the biggest obstacle to investigation

Even when victims file a case chats are deleted, facts are selectively disclosed and relationships are described incompletely. All the embarrassing but crucial details are omitted.

Behind every right swipe, match and message lies a distinctly human desire—for emotional intimacy, validation, companionship or the fulfilment of basic human needs. The desperation for connection can sometimes be so intense that a person knowingly overlooks warning signs and places trust in someone whose online profile may be entirely fabricated. It is within this space that many individuals fall into what is popularly known as a honey trap.

The issue has recently come into sharp focus following reports of a case involving a Haryana judicial officer who allegedly lost approximately  Rs 52 lakh after connecting with a person through the dating app Tinder. While denying bail to the accused, a Delhi court reportedly questioned why the complaint had initially been lodged through the judicial officer’s domestic worker when the financial trail appeared to indicate that the judicial officer herself was the real victim. The court also expressed concern about shortcomings in the investigation and the manner in which the case had been handled.

While this incident has attracted attention because of the status of the alleged victim, the underlying problem is far from uncommon. Every year, individuals from different professions and social backgrounds fall prey to schemes in which emotional intimacy is used as a pathway to financial exploitation. The details vary, but the pattern is familiar:........

© ThePrint