Cyberabad: AP resident held for cheating woman of Rs 6 lakhs on dating app

Hyderabad: Sleuths of Cyber Crimes, Cyberabad, apprehended a person accused of matrimonial fraud. The accused would take money from women he met on dating apps after promising to marry them.

As per the latest victim, he had cheated her off by taking more than Rs 6 lakhs.

The accused is identified as Chinni Reddy Srinath Reddy, a native of Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh. The police seized a mobile device along with SIM cards used in the offence.

Case details

Cyberabad Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) K Narasimha said that this is a case of matrimonial fraud wherein the fraudster executed a well-orchestrated fraud targeting unsuspecting women on dating applications.

Under the guise of a successful software engineer at Google, he deceived the victim with fabricated personal stories and fake job offers, collecting a total of Rs 6,41,736 through various fraudulent schemes. Based on the facts, the police registered a complaint and investigated the matter, he said.

Modus operandi

The DCP said that the fraudster would create a fake profile on Tinder and Neetho dating applications in the name of Sandeep Sunny. When requests are sent by the victim, the accused approached the victim as an app developer in a reputed organisation and initiated a virtual relationship through chat.

The accused deceived the victim in the pretext of friendship, love and later marriage and made the victim believe him by sending photos and personal information. He presented false stories of personal hardships, including a tragic family history, to gain the victim’s sympathy and trust of the victim in a web of deceit until the heartbreaking realisation of being deceived by the fraudster.

The accused lured the victims and used the amount to play different online games and betting applications such as Majestic Pride and Casino Pride which were used by the accused for spending cheated money, the DCP said.

A case has been registered and an investigation is on.

Public advisory

In view of the above circumstances, the citizens are advised:

- Exercise caution when engaging in online matrimonial alliances. Always verify the authenticity of online profiles and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately through the toll-free number 1930 and lodge a complaint in the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) immediately.

- Watch out for suspicious behaviour such as professing love too quickly, refusing to meet in person or via video chat, or constantly asking for money.

- If you suspect someone is a scammer, research their name, photos, and any other details they’ve provided. Scammers often use fake identities, and a quick search can reveal inconsistencies.

- If you encounter a potential scammer, report them to the dating platform and relevant authorities. This helps protect others from falling victim to the same scam.

- Stay informed about the latest scams and techniques used by fraudsters. Awareness is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself.

- If you’ve been a victim of a matrimonial scam, don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professional counsellors. It’s important to address any emotional or financial repercussions.