By Jenifer Hussain

Bengaluru – What starts as a swipe for love is fast turning into a swipe for loss. Bengaluru's tech-savvy singles are falling prey to a new breed of cybercriminals who mix romance with ruthless deception, draining victims of lakhs, even crores, through fake trading apps, honey traps, and high-society dating hoaxes.

According to the city's Cybercrime Police, dating-related frauds generally fall into two categories: honey-trap extortion (sextortion) and fraudulent investment schemes. Scammers, often posing as prospective partners, build emotional connections over weeks or months before coaxing victims into sharing sensitive information or transferring large sums of money.

“These fraudsters are exceptionally patient,” said a senior officer at the Cybercrime Police Station.“They engage victims in warm, genuine-sounding conversations, promise a future together, and gradually build trust before making financial demands.”

In one recent case, a 32-year-old software engineer lost ₹79.3 lakh after investing in a fake trading app, following the recommendation of a woman he met on a matrimonial website. Similarly, a 37-year-old businessman was duped of ₹5.5 lakh in a sextortion scam after connecting with a woman on a dating platform.

The Horamavu Case: A Costly 'High-Society' Trap

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