Gurugram Cyber Police have launched an investigation after an Italian woman alleged that a man claiming to live in Gurugram developed a romantic relationship with her, promised marriage and cheated her of 1,000 euros, or a little over ₹1 lakh.
The woman, identified in police-linked reports as Paola Bertolini, travelled from Italy to India after becoming frustrated with the pace of action on a complaint she had earlier filed in her home country.
She met Cyber ACP Gaurav Fogat in Gurugram and submitted details of the alleged fraud. Police subsequently registered a case and began tracing the suspect using bank account information and technical surveillance.
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Man Allegedly Promised Marriage Before Seeking Money
According to the complaint, Bertolini had been communicating with a man who allegedly presented himself as being romantically interested in her.
She claimed that he discussed marriage and gradually gained her confidence.
After establishing that relationship, the man allegedly persuaded her to send him around 1,000 euros.
The woman said communication stopped after the payment was made.
She subsequently began to suspect that the relationship had been used to obtain money from her and approached authorities.
A senior Gurugram Police officer confirmed that a case had been registered following her complaint and said investigators were examining the available financial and technical evidence.
Woman Flew From Italy to Pursue Complaint in India
Bertolini had initially reported the matter in Italy.
However, according to her account, progress was slow because the alleged offender was believed to be in India and the case required coordination across jurisdictions.
She eventually flew to Delhi and directly approached Gurugram Cyber Police.
Bertolini later posted about the experience on Gurugram Police’s official social media platform and thanked the cybercrime team for assisting her.
She said she had travelled to India specifically to pursue what she described as an international fraud complaint.
The unusual step of a foreign complainant travelling to India also highlights the difficulties victims can face when alleged cyber fraud crosses national borders.
Police in one country may need banking data, telecom records or investigative assistance from another jurisdiction before identifying or locating a suspect.
Police Trace Bank Account and Digital Trail
ACP Gaurav Fogat said police had begun tracing the accused using technical surveillance and bank account details.
Investigators are expected to examine where the 1,000 euros were transferred, who controlled the recipient account and whether the same banking or digital identifiers appear in other complaints.
Police may also examine messaging accounts, social-media profiles, mobile numbers and other communication records linked to the alleged relationship.
At this stage, authorities have not announced an arrest or publicly identified the accused.
The allegation remains under investigation and has not been established in court.
Complaint Includes Other Digital Fraud Allegations
In her social-media account of the case, Bertolini also referred to alleged phishing emails, attempts to empty bank accounts, promotion of drugs through Instagram and possible misuse of financial accounts.
These additional claims have not been independently established.
Police will have to determine whether they are connected to the alleged romance fraud or involve separate conduct.
For that reason, the central confirmed investigation remains the alleged deception involving the romantic relationship and transfer of money.
How Romance Scams Build Trust Before Asking for Money
Romance fraud typically begins with prolonged online contact rather than an immediate demand for payment.
A fraudster may present themselves as emotionally committed, discuss marriage or a future together and communicate frequently over weeks or months.
Once trust is established, money may be requested for an emergency, travel, business activity, medical expenses or another apparently urgent reason.
The emotional relationship can make victims more willing to overlook warning signs they would normally notice in a purely financial transaction.
Cross-border relationships can create another layer of difficulty because victims may never meet the person physically and may have limited ways to independently verify their identity, employment or location.
Gurugram Police Say Search for Accused Is Underway
Gurugram Police said cybercrime complaints involving both Indian and foreign victims are being examined on the basis of available evidence.
Fogat said efforts were underway to locate the accused.
The bank trail is likely to be particularly important because it can show where the alleged payment was received and whether the money was subsequently transferred elsewhere.
The investigation will also determine whether the suspect acted alone or whether other individuals or accounts were involved.
What this means for you
Be cautious when an online romantic partner asks for money, particularly if you have never met them in person. Verify their identity independently, avoid sending money to unfamiliar accounts and preserve messages, payment records and profile details if you suspect fraud.
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