Hyderabad Police recently put out a warning that has caught a lot of attention, especially among women who spend time on social media and dating apps. According to officials, scammers have started running a new kind of fraud that begins with a small bait.
For instance, some of them advertised as ₹499 for a boyfriend. The idea sounds harmless at first, but the trap goes much deeper.
Police say these fraudsters build fake profiles using photos and videos that often look too polished to be real. Some of them are even created with AI. Once contact is made, the conversation quickly moves off the app to WhatsApp or Telegram. The scammer then tries to create trust through sweet talk and fast declarations of friendship or love.
After a few days, the requests start. It could be a registration fee, money for a gift stuck in customs, help with a medical emergency, or charges for a hotel booking before a meeting. Each payment comes with a convincing story, and victims end up transferring more and more believing they are helping someone they care about.
In other cases the scam takes a darker turn. Victims are lured into late night video calls where explicit content is played and secretly recorded. That footage is then used to blackmail them, with threats to send it to friends and family unless more money is paid.
Officials noted that women are being targeted often because the scammers take time to build emotional connections before asking for anything. There have already been reports of people losing lakhs in similar dating and friendship scams in the city.
To stay safe, Hyderabad Police are urging people to verify anyone they meet online, avoid sharing bank details or personal photos with strangers, and never send money to someone they have not met in person.
They also warn against downloading unknown apps or clicking suspicious links.
