Mumbai| December 25, 2025 | A 52-year-old businessman from Mumbai has fallen victim to a ₹53 lakh cyber fraud after being trapped through a dating application. The accused woman allegedly befriended him under the pretext of marriage and later convinced him to invest in a fake gold trading scheme, promising high returns.
The fraud came to light when the victim attempted to withdraw his money and was asked to deposit additional funds. Following the incident, the victim approached the police, who have registered a case under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and cheating provisions.
Friendship on Dating App Turned Into Emotional Trap
According to police, the victim runs a logistics and marketing business and had created a profile on a dating application with the intention of getting married. During this time, he came in contact with a woman identifying herself as “Priyanka Gupta”, claiming to be a resident of Juhu, divorced, and a mother of one.
The woman gradually gained his trust through regular conversations and emotional bonding. She portrayed herself as serious about marriage and expressed willingness to settle down, which led the businessman to trust her completely.
Gold Trading Scheme Used as Bait
On October 13, the woman introduced the victim to what she claimed was a gold trading investment platform operated by a firm named Market Access Company. She assured him that the platform offered high and quick returns.
Initially hesitant, the businessman eventually agreed after repeated persuasion. The woman helped him create an online trading account and guided him through the investment process.
Over the next few days, the victim transferred money in multiple installments, eventually investing ₹53.30 lakh.
Fake Profits Shown, Money Withdrawal Blocked
After investing the amount, the victim noticed that the trading platform showed his investment had grown to ₹1.08 crore. However, when he attempted to withdraw the funds, he was told by so-called company representatives that:
- A 30% tax and processing fee must be paid first
- Withdrawal would not be allowed without additional payment
When the victim refused to deposit more money and demanded the return of his original investment, the accused started delaying responses and eventually stopped all communication.
Victim Approaches Police After Realising Fraud
Realising that he had been cheated, the businessman approached the cyber police and filed a complaint.
A police official said:
“A case has been registered under cheating and IT Act provisions. Two unidentified persons are being investigated. Bank transactions, mobile numbers and digital footprints are being analysed.”
Police are also examining the digital trading platform used in the scam, which is suspected to be fake and hosted on foreign servers.
New Pattern of Cyber Fraud
According to investigators, this case is part of a growing trend of romance scams combined with investment fraud, where victims are emotionally manipulated before being financially exploited.
The usual pattern includes:
- Building emotional trust through dating apps
- Promising marriage or long-term relationships
- Introducing fake investment opportunities
- Showing fake profits on fabricated platforms
- Demanding more money for withdrawals
In many cases, fraudsters operate using fake identities and overseas servers, making tracking difficult.
Police Advisory to Public
Police have issued a warning advising citizens to:
- Avoid trusting strangers met online
- Never invest money based on personal relationships
- Verify any trading platform before investing
- Avoid sharing financial or personal information
- Report suspicious activity immediately
