A Bengaluru man has alleged that a woman he met on a dating app and another man worked together to trick him into making an online payment for a package that he never received.
The woman, identified by the victim as Shelly, allegedly asked him to collect the package from a man named Ron before their planned meeting. She reportedly told him to make the payment online and assured him that she would return the money in cash.
After the payment was made, the victim alleged that both people stopped responding and eventually blocked him.
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A Dating App Match Turns Into an Unusual Request
The man shared his experience on social media in a post titled “Bangalore Dating Scam Alert”. He said he had matched with Shelly on a dating app and had been speaking to her for several days.
His work schedule had prevented them from meeting earlier. When he finally had some free time, he said he decided to meet her.
Before the meeting, however, Shelly allegedly introduced an unexpected request. She asked him to collect a package from Ron at a specified location and pay him online.
According to the victim, she claimed that she had enough cash with her and would return the amount after he made the digital payment. She also allegedly told him that her mother was involved in a business and that she had more cash than money available online.
The explanation seemed unusual to the man, but he said he did not question it further.
Victim Became Suspicious But Made the Payment
When the man reached the location, Ron allegedly told him that he was preparing the package and that the payment could be made in the meantime.
The victim said he initially became suspicious and asked Ron to hand over the package before he paid. He eventually made the online payment, however.
During the interaction, he remained in contact with Shelly, who was reportedly at another location. After the payment, she allegedly asked him to collect another item, saying she had forgotten to order cigarettes.
The situation reportedly changed when the man returned. According to his account, both Shelly and Ron had blocked him and stopped responding to his calls and messages.
He then suspected that the two had been communicating with each other and that the package request may have been part of a coordinated attempt to obtain his money.
Warning Signs In Dating App Scams
The incident has prompted the victim to warn other dating app users about unusual financial requests made by people they have recently met online.
A new online contact asking someone to collect goods from a stranger, make a payment on their behalf or transfer money before meeting should be treated cautiously. The risk becomes greater when the request involves an unfamiliar third party and an explanation that cannot be independently verified.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh has previously cautioned that online fraudsters often establish trust before introducing financial requests or seemingly harmless tasks.
In dating-related scams, that trust can make victims less likely to question requests that would otherwise appear unusual.
The Bengaluru man’s account also highlights another warning sign: he said he himself became suspicious during the transaction but eventually went ahead with the payment.
Social media users responding to his post expressed sympathy and urged him to report the incident. One user specifically advised him to contact the cybercrime helpline 1930.
Anyone who believes they have been financially defrauded should preserve payment receipts, transaction details, phone numbers and chat records rather than deleting the conversations. A complaint can be made through the national cybercrime helpline 1930, while the bank or payment service should also be informed immediately.
The allegations in this incident are based on the victim’s account shared online. There is no independent confirmation in the material provided that Shelly and Ron were working together, and their alleged involvement remains unproven.
What this means for you: If a person you recently met online asks you to pay an unfamiliar third party, collect a package or transfer money before meeting, stop and independently verify the request. If you have already lost money, contact your bank and report the transaction on 1930 immediately.
