A 37-year-old woman residing in Bengaluru has become the victim of an online scam, losing a substantial amount of Rs 4.5 lakh. According to the police, the incident unfolded after she connected with a man named Advik Chopra on the popular dating application, Tinder. Little did she know that Chopra had meticulously constructed a false identity to deceive her. The woman’s interaction with the imposter took place primarily on WhatsApp, where Chopra deceitfully presented himself as a medical practitioner based in London, United Kingdom. Gradually gaining her trust and affection, he managed to create a sense of romantic attachment within her.
Believing in their blossoming connection, the woman eagerly anticipated Chopra’s supposed visit to Bengaluru after claiming he would fly in via Dubai. However, her hopes were cruelly shattered when she received a call from an individual posing as an official from the Airports Authority of India. The caller informed her that Chopra had landed at Delhi airport but needed an endorsement and a payment of Rs 68,500 to continue his journey to Bengaluru. Blinded by concern and convinced of Chopra’s sincerity, the victim complied with the request and made the initial payment. Subsequently, she was coerced into making additional payments, including fees and processing charges, amounting to Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 2.06 lakh, respectively.
The scam took a sinister turn when the woman was asked to pay exorbitant Goods and Services Tax (GST) charges of Rs 6 lakh. Realizing that something was amiss, she probed further, only to have the call abruptly end and all communication with Chopra cease. Devastated and desperate for assistance, the woman reported the incident to the Whitefield cyber crime police station. Unfortunately, her attempts to reach out to Tinder customer support for help proved futile, leaving her feeling helpless and betrayed. The police are now investigating the case, attempting to track down the perpetrators and recover the victim’s hard-earned money. This incident serves as a reminder to exercise caution when engaging in online interactions and to remain vigilant against potential scams.