๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ + ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป $200๐ธ โ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ
โก๏ธ A civil contractor from India, Ramesh, lost around INR 1.67 crore (~$200,000) after falling for a crypto romance scam that started on a matrimonial website.
๐น How it started:
Ramesh matched with a woman named Priyanka who claimed to work at a crypto trading firm in Singapore. They began chatting on WhatsApp from April 11.
๐น Fake profits to gain trust:
At first, Ramesh sent INR 50,000 (~$583) and saw an instant fake profit of about INR 8,300 (~$100) in the app. Encouraged by these fake gains, he kept sending bigger amounts via bank transfers and UPI payments.
๐น Total damage:
Between April and June, Ramesh deposited a total of INR 1.67 crore (~$200,000). But when he tried to withdraw, the app froze his wallet and demanded an extra INR 25 lakh (~$29,000) to unlock the funds.
๐น Scammer vanished:
When Ramesh refused to pay the extra charge, the scammer blocked him on WhatsApp and switched off the number.
๐จ Aftermath:
Ramesh reported the case to Cyberabad Police, who are now investigating multiple bank accounts and phone numbers tied to the scam. A formal case has been filed under multiple fraud and cybercrime charges.
๐ข Police warning:
Authorities warn that social media and dating platforms have become key tools for cybercriminals to trap victims, especially through fake crypto apps promising quick profits.
โ Lesson:
If someone you meet online pushes you to invest in crypto through unknown apps or websites โ especially with promises of big returns โ itโs almost always a scam. Stay cautious and verify before you invest.