Bengaluru | Amid the sharp rise in online investment and romance scams across the country, another shocking case has emerged from Bengaluru, where a software engineer was allegedly cheated of ₹1.66 crore after being trapped through a dating app. The accused woman reportedly first built a friendship with the victim, gained his trust, and later persuaded him to invest in a so-called high-return investment scheme. Over time, the victim transferred crores of rupees into multiple bank accounts linked to the fraud.
The victim, identified as Saurav Dubey, filed a complaint at the South-East Cyber Crime Police Station. According to the complaint, he came into contact with a woman identifying herself as “Riya” through a dating application some time ago. Initially, their conversations revolved around casual friendship and personal discussions, but the woman later began talking about online trading and investment platforms that allegedly generated massive profits within a short period.
FCRF’s Flagship Cyber Law Certification Returns With a New Four-Week Cohort
Investigators found that the accused convinced the victim that she was involved in foreign investments and digital trading and was earning substantial returns through these platforms. She allegedly shared fake screenshots and fabricated profit statements to make the investment scheme appear genuine. Gradually, Saurav was persuaded to transfer money in multiple phases into different bank accounts provided by the accused.
According to the complaint, the fraud began with smaller investment amounts, and after showing fake profits, the accused gained the victim’s confidence. As trust increased, the investment amounts became significantly larger. When the victim later attempted to withdraw his money and the promised returns, he was allegedly asked to pay additional charges in the name of taxes, processing fees, and account verification.
Suspicion arose only after repeated demands for further payments and delays in releasing the funds. When the victim insisted on getting his money back, the woman reportedly cut off all communication, following which he realised that he had been defrauded and approached the cyber crime authorities.
Cyber crime experts say that “romance-investment scams” have witnessed a significant increase in recent months. In such frauds, cyber criminals use dating apps, social media platforms, and messaging services to emotionally manipulate victims before convincing them to invest in fake trading or cryptocurrency schemes. Fraudsters often use counterfeit trading websites, fake mobile applications, and fabricated profit dashboards to create an illusion of legitimacy.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cyber criminals are increasingly shifting from conventional OTP frauds to sophisticated “social engineering-based relationship scams.” According to him, “Fraudsters first establish emotional trust and then lure victims into fake investment opportunities involving cryptocurrency trading, forex exchange, or online trading platforms. He advised people not to invest money based solely on recommendations made by online acquaintances and to verify the authenticity of any investment platform before transferring funds.”
Cyber investigators are now examining the bank accounts and digital transaction trails through which the money was routed. Authorities are also probing whether the fraud is linked to a larger organised cyber crime syndicate operating across multiple states or countries. Preliminary findings reportedly indicate the involvement of several suspicious bank accounts and digital wallets.
Experts have urged citizens to remain cautious while interacting with strangers on dating apps and social media platforms. They warned that any promise of unusually high returns, quick profits, or guaranteed income from online investments should immediately raise suspicion. People have also been advised to report suspected cyber frauds without delay through the national cyber helpline 1930 or the official cyber crime reporting portal.
