Mumbai: Mumbai Police registered a case against a man who allegedly cheated a 27-year-old woman out of Rs 88,000 by pretending to help her invest in the stock market, only to disappear after receiving the funds. The accused met the victim through the dating app 'Bumble,' where the two matched in January. The woman, who works as a lab technologist in Mumbai's eastern suburbs, started chatting with the man, who identified himself as 'Danish.'
Accused Lured Victim With Schemes For High Returns In Stock Market
According to police, after gaining her trust over the course of a month, Danish claimed he owned properties in Mumbai and Pune and boasted about his success in the stock market. He convinced the woman that he could help her earn huge returns by investing her money. He first asked her to pay Rs 50,000 as a registration fee for a stock trading platform. Later, he requested an additional Rs 38,000 to proceed with the investments, reported the Indian Express.
Trusting him, the woman transferred the money in two installments, totalling Rs 88,000. Each time she requested proof of investment, Danish made excuses, promising to send documents soon, but never did. On April 15, after repeated calls went unanswered, she discovered that he had blocked her. Realising she had been deceived, she initially emailed her complaint to the Mulund Police Station. Later, she appeared in person to lodge a formal complaint.
FIR Filed Against Accused Under Cheating Charges
Following her statement, the Mulund Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused for cheating. Officers revealed that the accused used deceitful tactics and emotional manipulation under the guise of online romance to defraud the woman. They also noted a growing trend where fraudsters are shifting from matrimonial platforms to dating apps to exploit victims.
Police have begun tracing the suspect and have sought technical details, including the IP address associated with his Bumble account, to locate him. Police have urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with strangers on dating platforms and to be wary of individuals who offer financial advice or request money under suspicious circumstances. Investigations are ongoing as police work to identify and arrest the accused.
