Patna: An unidentified woman duped a 27-year-old youth from Patna of Rs29 lakh after befriending him on a dating app.The fraudster, who introduced herself as Rachel, built an emotional relationship with the youth, who works in the private sector, before luring him into a fake investment scheme.The youth has requested police to not disclose his name to the media. After connecting with the woman on the dating app, within days they exchanged WhatsApp numbers and began sharing photos and videos. The conversation quickly turned serious, with the woman talking about marriage and starting a new life together. To take the relationship forward, the woman insisted that the youth make an investment to secure their future financial stability. She directed him to a website and convinced him that any amount invested would be doubled in returns.Motivated by her words and the promise of quick gains, the victim transferred a total of Rs29 lakh in three instalments on Dec 6, 2025, Jan 20, 2026, and March 2, 2026. The money was the victim’s hard-earned savings, kept aside for his sister’s wedding scheduled next month.After the final investment, the woman suddenly distanced herself and stopped responding to messages and calls. When the youth tried to access the investment website, he realised he was cheated. Devastated, he lodged a complaint at the Patna cyber police station on April 12.Cyber DSP Nitish Chandra Dhariya said a case has been registered and an investigation is underway. “The youth came in contact with the fraud woman through a dating app about four months back. He shared his contact number and got emotionally attached to her. On her persuasion, he invested Rs29 lakh in instalments. He realised that he was cheated only after she stopped talking to him and turned off her contact number. A case has been registered and we are trying to trace the woman,” he told TOI on Tuesday.The DSP appealed to the public to remain cautious while making investments promoted on social media or dating platforms.“Always verify the authenticity of any investment opportunity. A legitimate company usually operates through a single registered account. Fraudsters often use multiple accounts to deceive people,” Dhariya warned. He advised citizens to conduct thorough research before investing and to avoid getting carried away by emotional manipulation or unrealistic promises of high returns.
