When Daljit Singh, a divorced man, decided to explore the world of online dating to find companionship, he never imagined it would cost him his entire life savings. The Noida resident became a victim of a financial scam after matching with a woman who allegedly lured him into investing in companies that promised massive returns.
Strangers To Friends: Trust Or Trap?
In December, Mr. Singh, a director at a Delhi-based firm, connected with a woman named Anita through a dating app. She claimed to be from Hyderabad, and what began as casual conversations soon turned into deep discussions and growing trust. Over time, their bond strengthened, making Mr. Singh believe she had his best interests at heart.
Gaining his confidence, Anita allegedly introduced him to a trading opportunity, claiming it could yield substantial profits. She provided details about three companies, urging him to invest.
To test the waters, Mr. Singh initially put in ₹3.2 lakh on the first platform and, within a few hours, saw a profit of ₹24,000. When he was able to withdraw ₹8,000 from his earnings without any hassle, his trust in Anita and the investment scheme deepened.
Believing he had found a lucrative opportunity, Mr. Singh decided to go all in. He invested ₹4.5 crore from his savings and, on Anita’s recommendation, took a loan of ₹2 crore to invest further. In total, he transferred ₹6.5 crore across 25 bank accounts through 30 different transactions.
Doubt Sets In
The situation took a turn when Mr. Singh attempted to withdraw his funds. Unlike before, he was told that he needed to deposit an additional 30% of his invested amount to process the withdrawal. When he refused, all contact with Anita ceased, and two of the three investment websites stopped functioning.
Realizing something was amiss, Mr. Singh approached the Cyber Police Station in Noida’s Sector-36 and filed a complaint.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered that Anita’s dating app profile was completely fake. Efforts are now underway to trace the bank accounts where the funds were transferred.
