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Ad professional robbed of laptop, cellphone at home, bringing to light perils of online dating
In yet another example of online dating gone wrong, a gay advertising professional was robbed by his 'friend' in the city recently.
Amey Malhotra (name changed on request), who works as a brand executive in a Parel-based firm, was duped of his laptop and mobile, after befriending a man who claimed to be 'Zaif' after days of online chats.
Said Amey, "Last month, a man started chatting with me online. He claimed he wanted to become a model, and approached me hoping I would give him a break. He sent a couple of pictures; he was good looking."
The friendship grew and the two started meeting. "I felt an affinity towards him, as he was from Delhi, where I studied," said Amey. Zaif was "a typical guy from the North -- very good looking, but a little rough around the edges," he added.
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Bewafa sanam: The man who befriended Amey never paid on any dates and did not even disclose his last name. Representation pic |
Rose-tinted glasses
Like a besotted lover, Amey missed things that should have raised a red flag -- for instance, Zaif never had money and Amey constantly paid for dinner and cab rides. Zaif never disclosed his second name.
Amey recalled, "Zaif would tell me you must come home for Eid. Since I am a plump guy, he would pull my cheeks and say: You are cute. He also told me that he would make the physical compromise (euphemism for casting couch), since he had heard that 'compromises' were necessary to get a break in ad films. I always told him that is not true of everybody."
Looted
On January 12, Zaif called Amey and said they would meet for dinner. "I was at my home near Elphinstone Road and was to meet Zaif at the station. I left home, but realised I had forgotten my wallet. So, we went back to get money. By then, it was nearly 12.30 am. Zaif told me, 'Go and wash your face at least, you are just back from work'. I went into the washroom. Soon, I realised that the thin, aluminum door to the washroom was locked from outside," he recalled.
Amey initially thought Zaif was joking, and shouted, "C'mon Zaif, this is not funny, let me out." But when he did not get a response he panicked. "I knew there was nobody in my house. I was banging on the door for more than 10 minutes, after which it gave way. I was bleeding and bruised," he added.
He found that his mobile phone (worth Rs 18,000) and laptop (worth Rs 1.2 lakh) were missing."
A distraught Amey filed an FIR at the Shaitan Chowkie police station, Dadar. Amey seems to have learnt a lesson the hard way. "I was such a trusting, open person but now I'm doubly careful. I'm very skeptical about people."
| Online dating safety tips |
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>>Hold on to personal information
>>Do not be too liberal with your phone number
>>Make a free e-mail account that you use just for online dating. Don't put your full name
>>Always meet in a public place for the first time
>>Do tell a friend/family your whereabouts and have an exit route ready if things get nasty |
| Cops help |
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A year ago, Cherag B (29), a former manager with a cosmetics store at Altamount Road, was duped of
Rs 30,000 and assaulted by a friend, Faraaz H Mistry, once Cherag started pressuring him to return the money he had borrowed.
Cherag, a homosexual, was helped by the police. In fact, he has advised gays not to be reluctant to approach the police in case of any trouble and not stereotype them.
Love and life: The Bombay Dost magazine
Online is fine but...
Vikram Phukan, editor, Bombay Dost, a magazine for the gay community, says, "Online dating sites are a lifeline to most gay people who are not out yet, or who cannot meet in normal social circumstances. Entrapment does take place because there are plenty of people who are all out to take advantage of people in a vulnerable situation, which very often is the case with gays in India. Yet, all it takes is some common sense to steer clear when you see danger signals. Also, follow certain rules like meeting at public places first. Healthy interaction can develop out of meeting online too, but remember that you have to be careful, it is your life after all." |
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July 2, 2009
New Delhi High Court, repealed Section 377, decriminalising consensual sex between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults | |
