Dating scam: How a woman lost Rs 3.37 lakh in 'friendship fraud' on Tinder and was saved from further loss

A 43-year-old art director from Mumbai has fallen victim to a sophisticated online scam, losing a significant sum of money to a man she met on Tinder. According to police reports, the woman befriended a person named "Advait" on the dating app last month, leading to what she believed was a budding relationship.
The scammer, posing as Advait, claimed to be abroad and intended to visit Mumbai on September 16.On that day, the woman received a shocking call from someone purporting to be a Delhi customs official. The caller informed her that Advait had been detained at the airport with a large sum of Euros.
In a moment of panic, the woman was told that she needed to pay Rs 3.37 lakh via UPI to secure Advait's release. Following the caller's instructions, she transferred the money. However, the fraudster later demanded an additional Rs4.99 lakh for further expenses.

While attempting to transfer this second amount at her bank, a vigilant bank official sensed something was amiss. The staff member questioned her about the transaction and quickly alerted her to the potential fraud. Thanks to their timely intervention, she was spared from losing more money.
The police have since registered a case of cheating at the Versova police station against unidentified individuals, and investigations are ongoing.
This incident echoes a previous case in which a 33-year-old woman from Malad fell victim to a similar scam. She was duped of Rs 2.45 lakh by a man who claimed to be a doctor visiting from the UK, also entangled in customs issues.
As these cases highlight the growing trend of online scams, experts urge users of dating apps to remain vigilant and cautious, especially when sharing personal information or money with new acquaintances.