Dating app 'girlfriend' turns blackmailer, extorts Rs 5cr from advocate
Times of India
What happened
A fraudster posing as a woman on an online dating app allegedly built trust with a 27-year-old advocate and later threatened to disclose their personal chats to his family and on social media. The victim reported paying more than INR 5 crore from savings and property-sale proceeds between July and September 15, including INR 77 lakh in cash delivered to receivers. Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered a case after the victim's complaint and said online transfers went to a single beneficiary while efforts were underway to locate the accused.
Fraud Taxonomy & Attack Intelligence
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Financial Intelligence
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Aggregate loss claimed by victims
No frozen assets stated
No recovery reported
Trail tracing ongoing
How the Fraud Worked
Factual breakdown of the modus operandi extracted from public reporting.
Understand recurring psychological grooming and exfiltration pipeline patterns across India.
View general attack sequence breakdown
Modus Operandi: Attack Sequence Flowchart
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Urgent Warning Notice
SMS or WhatsApp message arrives warning that bank account or SIM card will be blocked today.
Analyst & Threat Signal View(Technical extraction metrics)
Extraction confidence
High
Threat signal score
75 / 100
Named Entities & Impersonation
Organisations, suspects, and official bodies named in reporting. Entities are categorized strictly by their role in the story.
Case & Investigation Status
Law enforcement action, judicial status, and asset seizures documented in public reports. Reflects publish time, not live court dockets.
“Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered a case and said it was trying to locate the accused; arrest status was not stated.”
Investigation Timeline
Factual chronology of law enforcement and regulatory milestones documented in public reporting.
The advocate came into contact with the person identifying herself as Disha on an online dating app.
The accused allegedly contacted the victim again, claiming her mother was hospitalized with a brain blood clot.
The victim paid more than INR 5 crore between July 2026 and September 15 under threats to disclose his personal chats.
The reported extortion period extended through September 15, 2026.
The victim filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered a case following the victim's complaint.
Where this report came from
RISX summarises public reporting into plain language. Always check the original — wording and dates may change after publication.
Last updated from feed: 22 September 2026 at 06:55 pm
- Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/dating-app-girlfriend-turns-blackmailer-extorts-rs-5cr-from-advocate/articleshow/134419460.cms
Recognise the Red Flags
If you encounter any of these signals in communications, disengage immediately.
Pushes you to act in a hurry
Real organizations give you time. Threats like 'your account will be closed in 30 minutes' are designed to panic you into mistakes.
Asks for OTP, PIN, CVV, or password
Banks, UPI apps, government offices, and police never ask for these. Anyone asking is trying to steal your money.
Sends you a link or APK to install
Tapping unknown links or installing unverified apps can give scammers full access to your phone and bank accounts.
Comes from an unusual or unofficial number
Check the sender ID carefully. Misspelled brand names, random 10-digit numbers, or international numbers are common scam signs.
Asks for an advance, processing fee, or 'refund tax'
Real refunds, prizes, jobs, or loans never require you to pay first. If you must pay to receive something, it is a scam.
Targeted or Lost Money? Action Plan
Act within the golden hour to freeze transfers. Follow these verified immediate steps and report to official authorities.
National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930)
Call within 1–2 hours to initiate inter-bank freeze protocol under CFCFRMS.
Call 1930 NowImmediate Protection Checklist
Steps to take right away to protect your accounts and freeze unauthorized transactions.
Stop the call or chat right now
Hang up, leave the chat, and do not click any more links. Every extra minute is more risk. Take a breath; you are not alone in this.
Block your card and freeze the account
Call your bank's official helpline (printed on the back of your card or on the bank's website) and ask them to block the card and temporarily freeze online transactions. Do not call numbers a stranger gave you.
Change passwords and revoke device access
Change passwords for net banking, UPI apps, and email. In your UPI app, remove any 'linked devices' you do not recognize. Turn on two-factor authentication where possible.
Report to the National Cyber Crime Helpline within 24 hours
Call 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Reporting within the first 24 hours gives the best chance of freezing the money before it moves.
Open cybercrime.gov.inSave evidence before it disappears
Take screenshots of the messages, save call logs, note down the phone numbers, UPI IDs, and any URLs involved. Save SMS-based transaction alerts. You will need these for the complaint.
Tell a trusted person
Scams thrive on shame and isolation. Telling a family member or friend helps you think clearly and avoid follow-up scams that target recent victims.
Official Reporting Channels
Where and how to lodge your formal cyber complaint in India.
National Cyber Crime Helpline
Start hereFirst call for any online financial fraud. Operators help you file a complaint and can request banks to freeze the recipient account.
cybercrime.gov.in
Official portal of the Government of India to report cyber crime, including financial fraud, social media misuse, and crimes against women and children.
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