"Beware of Rent Boyfriend traps": Hyderabad Police warn of new dating scam
Hyderabad, August 10
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjana, IPS, has issued a public warning about a new cyber fraud targeting women and young girls through social media under the guise of "Rent Boyfriend" offers.
VC Sajjanar, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, taking to his X handle, wrote, "Feeling lonely? Want a handsome guy to have coffee with you, go to the movies with you? And that too with 50% OFF! Behind these colourful posters circulating on social media in the name of various offers lies a big cyber fraud. This is a new dating trap being set by cyber fraudsters, specifically targeting girls and young women."
According to police, fraudsters are using platforms such as Instagram, Telegram and Facebook to circulate advertisements offering services under names such as "Rent Boyfriend - Your Personal Companion". The posters feature photographs of attractive young men and offer different packages, including ₹499 for a one-hour coffee meeting, ₹1,249 for a movie date, ₹1,499 for shopping, ₹1,999 for attending events or weddings and ₹4,499 for a 10-hour package. The fraudsters claim to provide complete privacy and security and ask interested users to contact them through direct messages for bookings.
Police said the perpetrators often use AI-generated photographs or pictures collected from the internet as profile images. After women contact them, the fraudsters engage in friendly conversations and later demand money in the name of booking confirmation, security deposits or advance payments. Payments are allegedly collected through digital wallets and QR codes, after which the accounts are blocked.
Police also warned that sharing personal information, phone numbers and photographs with strangers can expose victims to further risks, including threats and blackmail. Meeting strangers contacted through such platforms can also put users at risk.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime wing has taken note of the advertisements and said action would be taken against those involved.
Police urged both young women and parents to remain alert about suspicious social media activity. People have been advised not to chat with or meet unknown persons or make any advance payments for such services.
Anyone who has fallen victim to such a fraud, or comes across suspicious posts, has been advised to report it immediately through the cybercrime helpline 1930 or the national cybercrime reporting portal.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a woman who recently moved to Hyderabad for work, this is really concerning. It's scary to think that these scammers are specifically targeting young women who might be lonely in a new city. I'm glad the police are being proactive about this. Will definitely be sharing this warning with my colleagues.
What is the world coming to? Dating apps already have enough fake profiles and now this? I think young girls need to be more careful. My cousin almost fell for something similar on Telegram last month. Good thing she asked me before sending money. Parents need to have open conversations with their daughters about these dangers!
This is a classic scam that's been happening globally in different forms. The "rent a boyfriend/girlfriend" concept itself is questionable, but adding the fraud element makes it worse. I appreciate the Hyderabad Police using social media (Commissioner's X handle) to directly reach out to the youth. Modern problems need modern solutions!
The ₹4,499 for 10 hours package is literally more than what many people earn in a day! Who would fall for this? But then again, loneliness makes people vulnerable. I'm glad police are warning about the blackmail risk too - that's the scariest part. Once they have your photos, they can threaten you forever. Stay safe everyone!
Respect to Commissioner Sajjana for addressing this directly on social media. He's been very active in cybercrime awareness. However, I also think we need better education for young people, not just warnings. Schools and colleges should have sessions on digital safety and financial scams. Prevention is better
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.