The cases of online scams are not showing any signs of decreasing in India. In the last few months, many people have suffered losses worth lakhs and crores of rupees due to these cyber hackers. Recently, a 42-year-old resident of Bengaluru allegedly lost over Rs 1.29 crore in an online investment scam that started on a dating platform. The scammers allegedly connected with the victim on a dating app, lured her into a web of emotional manipulation, built trust over time and ultimately swindled her money.

According to the complaint lodged by victim Jagdish C with the North CEN (Cyber ​​Crime, Economic Offences, Narcotics) police on November 7, the fraudsters first contacted him on the app, reports NDTV. One of the suspects, a woman identifying herself as Meghna Reddy, reportedly played a central role in gaining his trust. She reportedly told him that she wanted to take a charitable step in honor of his family. According to the FIR, she claimed that she wanted to build an old age home in her father’s name. This passionate pitch reassured the victim of his sincerity and intentions, who believed he had made a real connection on the platform.

The emotional narrative along with the promise of attractive investment returns made the entire scheme credible. After weeks of communication and persuasion, the suspects directed Jagadish to a website claiming to provide investment opportunities in international stock markets. The platform looked legitimate, and the fraudsters even showed him fabricated profit screenshots to convince him that the investment was safe and highly profitable. Believing that this financial offer would benefit both his family’s legacy and his alleged charitable work, Jagadish went ahead and transferred the funds.

Over two days – November 5 and 6 – he allegedly made multiple RTGS and NEFT transfers amounting to Rs 1,29,33,253. However, once the money was sent, communication with the suspects suddenly stopped. There was no promised return, and calls and messages remained unanswered. It was then that they realized they had been duped and approached the police to lodge a formal complaint.

Dating app scams are on the rise in India

This is hardly the first time scammers have taken advantage of emotional weaknesses to dupe people into parting with large sums of money. Dating-app-related investment fraud, often referred to as “romance scams” or “pig-butcher schemes”, has increased rapidly across India and globally.

In such scams, fraudsters pretend to have romantic interests, slowly gain the victim’s trust and eventually present investment opportunities that promise high returns. According to cyber crime authorities, these schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, combining emotional grooming with fake trading dashboards, social media profiles and fabricated financial statements.

how to stay safe

To stay safe from such scams, officials urge people to be cautious when interacting with strangers online, especially on dating and social platforms. Individuals are advised to verify investment claims through official channels, avoid sharing sensitive information, and immediately report suspicious profiles or activity.