Man Loses Rs.6.50 lakh in Hyderabad in Online Dating, Friendship Scam

As he was searching for a suitable woman to marry or enter into a live-in relationship, he received a WhatsApp call on 09/07/2025 from a woman named Tanya Sharma, who offered to include him in a friendship group after paying a registration fee of Rs.1,950.

Later, he was contacted by Priti and Ritika, who convinced him to make several payments under various refundable categories such as hotel booking, meeting confirmation, service tax, refund process, account verification, and privacy security.

Believing their claims, the victim transferred a total of Rs.6.49 lakh to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. Later, the victim realised it is a well-organized dating and friendship scam operated by a group impersonating representatives of reputed companies and reported the fraud at Hyderabad cyber crimes police.

The police asked the people to be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages on WhatsApp, social media, or dating platforms offering friendship or marriage opportunities. Never pay registration fees, advance amounts, or “refundable charges” for meeting arrangements, memberships, or verification processes.

Verify the identity of the person or organization before sharing personal or financial information. Avoid transferring money to unknown bank accounts or individuals claiming to provide refunds or lucrative returns. Remember, legitimate dating or matrimonial services do not demand multiple payments under different pretexts. Stay vigilant and consult family or friends before making any financial decisions based on online interactions, the police said.

Victims of cybercrime fraud can immediately dial 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in. In case of any emergency of cyber frauds please call or WhatsApp 8712665171.