Ahmedabad Man Loses Rs 56.35 Lakh in Elaborate Dating App Forex Scam
Dating applications are increasingly becoming fertile hunting grounds for cybercriminals seeking to ensnare unsuspecting victims. A stark example of this alarming trend emerged in Ahmedabad, where a 40-year-old man was reportedly swindled out of a staggering Rs 56.35 lakh by a woman he met on a popular dating platform. The case was formally reported to the police on Saturday, highlighting the sophisticated methods employed by modern fraudsters.
The Initial Contact and Shift to Telegram
According to the detailed police complaint, the victim, a pharmaceutical industry executive, had been active on the dating app for several years. In November 2025, he connected with a woman whose profile seemed genuine. After initial conversations within the app's messaging system, the woman allegedly persuaded him to move their communication to the Telegram messaging service, citing better connectivity and privacy. This shift to a less-regulated platform is a common tactic used by scammers to operate outside the oversight of official app moderators.
The Lucrative Forex Trading Pitch
During their extensive chats and voice calls on Telegram, the woman crafted an elaborate narrative. She claimed to be actively involved in currency trading, presenting it as a highly profitable venture. To bolster her claims, she shared doctored screenshots that purportedly showed substantial daily profits from forex markets. Skillfully, she convinced the man that investing in foreign exchange was far more lucrative and reliable than traditional stock trading, preying on his desire for financial gain.
The scam escalated when she sent him a link to a sophisticated-looking 'trading website'. She meticulously guided him through the registration process, which required entering sensitive personal details. Following account creation, she directed him to contact a designated "customer support" handle on Telegram for account verification and to assist with future transactions, further normalizing the fraudulent ecosystem.
The Investment Trap and False Profits
The executive, now ensnared, made his initial 'investment' of Rs 40,000 via a UPI transfer to a bank account provided by the fraudsters. His trading dashboard on the fake website immediately reflected a profit, and he was even allowed to withdraw a small amount—a classic confidence-building maneuver. Encouraged by this apparent success, he proceeded to invest larger sums over the subsequent two months. These transactions, conducted through multiple RTGS and UPI transfers, were directed into various bank accounts shared by the accused, complicating the money trail.
The trading application displayed continuously inflated returns, eventually showing an account balance exceeding $1.5 lakh, which is equivalent to over Rs 1.2 crore. This fabricated wealth was designed to create a false sense of security and immense future payoff.
The Unraveling: Demands and Delays
The scheme began to collapse when the man attempted to withdraw the full displayed amount. The fraudsters then introduced new obstacles, demanding additional payments labeled as "taxes" and "security deposits" to process the withdrawal. Despite complying with these demands, the withdrawals were repeatedly delayed under various pretexts. The victim's suspicion was finally triggered when they demanded an unusually large sum as a "security fee".
Realization and Police ActionA discussion with a trusted friend confirmed his growing fears that he was being systematically swindled. He promptly contacted the national cybercrime helpline for guidance and subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the Ahmedabad police. The Cybercrime police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, citing charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust. This case serves as a critical warning about the dangers of financial entanglements with strangers met on digital platforms.
