Residents of Hyderabad and across Telangana are facing a sharp rise in financial scams orchestrated through popular dating applications. New data reveals a disturbing 67% increase in monetary losses suffered by victims in 2025 compared to the previous year, highlighting a growing threat in the digital romance space.
Alarming Statistics Point to a Growing Epidemic
According to official figures, a total of 569 individuals approached the Telangana police in 2025, reporting collective losses amounting to a staggering ₹2.81 crore. This marks a significant jump from 2024, where 532 victims had reported financial damages. The demographic most affected is the youth, with officials noting that 61% of the victims were aged between 18 and 35 years. The remaining 39% belonged to the 35-65 age group.
This alarming trend has prompted the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) to take decisive action. As part of its statewide "Fraud Ka Full Stop" awareness campaign, the bureau, in coordination with The Times of India as its official media partner, is highlighting five critical cybercrime methods. These include dating app frauds, child sexual abuse frauds, matrimonial frauds, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying.
The Human Cost Beyond Financial Loss
TGCSB Director Shikha Goel emphasized that the impact of these scams extends far beyond emptied bank accounts. "The victims of dating app fraud generally show signs of financial distress and debt, emotional trauma and mental stress, loss of trust in relationships, social stigma, anxiety, and depression," Goel told TOI.
Investigators detailed several common tactics used by fraudsters. In one case, an accused person posed as a foreign national, lured a victim with the promise of marriage, and subsequently extorted money. In another instance, a victim was manipulated into investing in a fake cryptocurrency application, suffering a loss of ₹8 lakh. There were also severe cases where the accused recorded compromising videos of victims and used them for blackmail and extortion.
A Contrast in Cyberstalking Trends
While dating app frauds led to greater financial damage, the bureau also reported a rise in cyberstalking cases. The number of registered cyberstalking incidents increased from 2,256 in 2024 to 2,985 in 2025. However, in a contrasting trend, the financial loss linked to this particular crime decreased by 40%.
Police officials noted that in cyberstalking scenarios, the majority of the accused are known to the victims, often being ex-partners, acquaintances, or neighbours. This differs from the typically stranger-perpetrated dating app scams.
The concerted awareness drive by the TGCSB aims to educate the public on recognizing red flags, securing personal information online, and reporting suspicious activities promptly to curb this escalating wave of cyber-enabled financial and emotional exploitation.
