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After Digital arrest, online romance scams are becoming one of the biggest cybercrime threats in India and WhatsApp, most popular instant messaging app in the country, is emerging as a new hunting ground for fraudsters. In a recent case, a 63-year-old man from Bengaluru lost Rs 32 lakh after falling victim to a WhatsApp-based 'high-society dating' scam. The incident shows how cybercriminals are exploiting people’s emotions to trick them into transferring money. How The Scam Worked According to reports, the victim was contacted by a person claiming to represent an elite dating service that could connect him with 'high-society women.' The man was asked to pay a small registration fee of around Rs 1,950. Once he made the payment, he received three pictures of women and was told to pick one. After choosing a woman named Ritika, the victim began chatting with her over WhatsApp. The conversations felt genuine and within days, the supposed match expressed interest in meeting him in person. However, the scam took a turn when the 'coordinator' demanded multiple additional payments, citing various charges such as membership upgrades, legal formalities and travel costs. Over the next few weeks, the man made several transfers until the total reached around Rs 32.2 lakh. When he hesitated to pay more, the scammers allegedly threatened him with legal action. That’s when he realised it was a scam and filed a police complaint under cybercrime and cheating charges. This is not the only case. multiple reports reveal that romance and friendship scams are rising sharply across India, with fraudsters using WhatsApp, Instagram and dating apps to lure victims. They build emotional trust over time and then demand money through well-crafted stories. According to cybercrime officials, most victims hesitate to report these scams out of embarrassment, which only encourages criminals to target more people. How To Stay Safe - Be cautious of unknown numbers or profiles initiating personal conversations on WhatsApp. - Never transfer money to anyone you haven’t met in person. - Avoid sharing personal or financial information, photos, or OTPs online. - Verify identities through video calls or trusted platforms. - Report suspicious activity immediately to cybercrime.gov.in or your nearest police station. Get Latest News live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Technology Science and around the world.
