Tianjin Man Spends 6000 Yuan on Fake Coffee Date

A 25-year-old man in Tianjin thought he was going on a simple coffee date—until the bill hit 6000 yuan. What started as a friendly meetup in a small café turned into a costly lesson about deception in online matchmaking.

The man was scammed out of 6000 yuan in just two hours after agreeing to a seemingly casual coffee meetup, ordered by the woman he met online. She selected a small café, where hidden markups on wine, coffee, and snacks led to an exorbitant final bill—without him checking prices or menus.

What Happened During the Coffee Meetup?

The man, referred to as Xiao Liu, registered on the Baihe dating site in early May. He connected with a local woman, chatted online, and then exchanged QQ messages. After feeling they got along, she suggested meeting at a café near Zhongshan Road in Hebei District, Tianjin.

At noon on May 10, they met and quickly decided to go inside the café she chose. She ordered a fruit plate and a coffee. Not wanting to seem cheap, Xiao Liu didn’t look at the menu and agreed. The bill came to 310 yuan—higher than expected, but he paid without question.

Then she began ordering more: tea, followed by three or four glasses of wine. Each new drink carried a higher price: 820 yuan, 1220 yuan, 1680 yuan. The total climbed rapidly. Feeling uneasy, Xiao Liu kept paying. Later, she called over a female friend, and two more expensive wines were ordered. By cash and card, Xiao Liu had spent over 6000 yuan in total.

When he said he had no money left, the woman complained of stomach pain and left quickly with her friend.

How the Scam Unfolded

Xiao Liu later told friends about the strange experience. They suspected the woman was a so-called 'wine hostess'—a scammer who lures men into overpriced venues and runs up tabs with inflated pricing on drinks and food.

He called the police but had no receipts. With mediation, the café refunded 1000 yuan. The woman called him once afterward, but when he hinted he doubted her identity, she stopped responding. They never spoke again.

Xiao Liu also reported the woman to Baihe. Site staff said they’d need a written complaint with details and might deactivate her account after review. But Baihe only verifies user identity at registration—it doesn’t screen for scam behavior.

Why This Kind of Scam Works

Later, Xiao Liu’s friend visited the café. The actual prices were far lower: the fruit plate was 68 yuan, coffee 30–40 yuan. But Xiao Liu never checked the menu or asked for itemized billing. His desire to appear generous, combined with not knowing the real costs, made him vulnerable.

Scammers exploit this psychology: they choose places with high markups, build quick rapport online, and steer victims to venues where prices are hidden or inflated. The goal is to make the target feel social pressure to spend without questioning the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly did Xiao Liu spend 6000 yuan on?

Xiao Liu was charged for a fruit plate, coffee, tea, and multiple glasses of wine—each drink priced at 820, 1220, 1680 yuan and more. The total came to over 6000 yuan in two hours, mostly on wine he didn’t check the price of. The actual fruit plate cost just 68 yuan and coffee around 30–40 yuan.

Was the woman he met really a 'wine hostess'?

His friends and later reports suggest she was likely a 'wine hostess'—a scammer who pretends romantic interest to lure men into overpriced cafés. She picked the venue, ordered high-markup items, and left once he couldn’t pay more. She also stopped contact after he questioned her identity.

Did the café refund any of his money?

Yes. After Xiao Liu called the police and with no receipts but his statement, the café manager gave him a 1000 yuan refund through mediation. But he did not get back the full 6000 yuan.

Could the dating site have prevented this?

Baihe verifies user identity but does not screen for scammers. Staff told Xiao Liu they could review the case if he submitted a written report with details, but they can’t guarantee action. The platform only confirms that users are real-name registered, not that they are trustworthy.

What should you do to avoid such scams?

Always check the menu and ask for prices before ordering. Choose familiar or public venues for first meetings. Avoid letting your date order for you or suggest expensive drinks. Keep track of spending, ask for itemized bills, and trust your instincts if something feels off.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for First Dates

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