Ahmedabad: A sophisticated online investment fraud originating from a dating platform has come to light in Ahmedabad, where a 40-year-old professional was duped of ₹56.35 lakh after being lured with promises of high returns in currency trading. The case highlights a growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting emotional connections and financial aspirations to execute large-scale scams.
From Dating App Conversation to Investment Pitch
According to the complaint filed with cyber crime authorities, the victim, a deputy manager in a pharmaceutical company residing in the Maninagar area, came into contact with a woman identified as Aarohi Gupta on the popular dating application Tinder. What began as casual interaction gradually evolved into frequent conversations, eventually leading to financial discussions.
Investigators said the accused gained the victim’s trust over time before introducing him to an investment opportunity in currency trading. She claimed that the scheme offered exceptionally high returns and appeared to have insider-level reliability. Convinced by her assurances, the victim agreed to explore the opportunity further.
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Fake App and Inflated Returns Create Illusion of Profit
As part of the process, the victim was instructed to download an unknown mobile application and create an account by submitting personal identification documents. Shortly after opening the account, he made an initial investment of ₹40,000. Within a short period, the application displayed a balance exceeding ₹43,000, creating the illusion of profit and reinforcing his confidence in the scheme.
Encouraged by the apparent gains, the accused persuaded the victim to invest larger sums. Over a period of time, he transferred a total of ₹35.40 lakh into the application. The platform continued to show inflated returns, with the account balance reportedly rising to ₹1.24 crore. Officials noted that such inflated figures are commonly used by fraudsters to manipulate victims into making additional investments.
Withdrawal Blocked as Fraudsters Demand Additional Payments
The fraud took a more aggressive turn when the victim attempted to withdraw his funds. At this stage, the accused and associated handlers began demanding additional payments under various pretexts, including taxes, processing fees, and regulatory charges. Believing that these payments were necessary to unlock his earnings, the victim transferred an additional ₹17 lakh and ₹3.95 lakh in separate transactions.
Despite paying a total of ₹56.35 lakh, the victim was unable to withdraw any funds. Repeated attempts to access his account or contact the accused yielded no results, at which point he realised that he had been defrauded. He subsequently approached the cyber crime police, who registered a case and initiated an investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the fraud was carefully orchestrated using a combination of social engineering and digital manipulation. Experts point out that such scams typically involve fake trading platforms that simulate real-time profits, making it difficult for victims to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent systems.
Cyber security analysts warn that dating apps are increasingly being used as entry points for financial fraud. Criminals create fake profiles, build emotional rapport, and gradually introduce investment schemes that appear credible. Once the victim is financially committed, additional demands are made under pressure tactics, often resulting in significant losses.
Authorities are now working to trace the digital footprint of the fraud, including bank transactions, IP addresses, and communication records linked to the case. Efforts are also underway to identify whether the accused is part of a larger network operating similar scams across multiple regions.
Officials have urged the public to exercise caution while interacting with unknown individuals on online platforms, especially when financial investments are involved. They emphasized the importance of verifying the authenticity of apps and schemes before transferring money, and advised against sharing personal or financial information with unverified sources.
