Hyderabad Police are alerting young women to a new online dating scam, dubbed 'rent a boyfriend,' that uses social media to ensnare victims. Fraudsters post enticing advertisements on platforms like Instagram and Telegram, featuring attractive men and offering various date packages. Once initial contact is made, scammers employ friendly conversation before demanding advance payments under false pretenses, such as booking confirmation or security deposits. After receiving funds through digital means, they sever all contact and block the victims. The police emphasize the dangers of sharing personal information and advise extreme caution to prevent financial loss and potential blackmail.

Hyderabad Police are alerting young women to a new online dating scam, dubbed 'rent a boyfriend,' that uses social media to ensnare victims. Fraudsters post enticing advertisements on platforms like Instagram and Telegram, featuring attractive men and offering various date packages. Once initial contact is made, scammers employ friendly conversation before demanding advance payments under false pretenses, such as booking confirmation or security deposits. After receiving funds through digital means, they sever all contact and block the victims. The police emphasize the dangers of sharing personal information and advise extreme caution to prevent financial loss and potential blackmail.

Hyderabad Police are alerting young women to a new online dating scam, dubbed 'rent a boyfriend,' that uses social media to ensnare victims. Fraudsters post enticing advertisements on platforms like Instagram and Telegram, featuring attractive men and offering various date packages. Once initial contact is made, scammers employ friendly conversation before demanding advance payments under false pretenses, such as booking confirmation or security deposits. After receiving funds through digital means, they sever all contact and block the victims. The police emphasize the dangers of sharing personal information and advise extreme caution to prevent financial loss and potential blackmail.

“Feeling lonely? Want a handsome guy to have coffee with you, go to the movies with you? And that too with 50% OFF!” — read the tagline on one of several advertisement posters circulating on social media, prompting the Hyderabad Police to issue an advisory .

The police have warned young women and girls against a new online scam in which fraudsters target them on social media with fake “rent a boyfriend” offers.

“This is a new dating trap being set by cyber fraudsters, specifically targeting girls and young women,” Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, wrote on X.

According to the police, fraudsters are using platforms such as Instagram, Telegram and Facebook to circulate advertisements offering these services.

How the scam works

According to the police, posters advertising these services feature photographs of attractive young men and offer various 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 also claim to offer complete privacy and security and ask interested users to contact them through direct messages to make bookings.

The scammers often use AI-generated images as profile pictures. Once a woman contacts them, the fraudsters engage her in friendly conversations before demanding money under various pretexts, including booking confirmation, security deposits or advance payments. After receiving the money through digital wallets or QR codes, they block the victim’s account.

Risk of sharing personal information

The police have cautioned women against sharing sensitive personal information, including their address, phone number and photographs, with strangers, warning that doing so could expose them to further risks such as threats and blackmail.

Sajjanar urged young women and parents to remain vigilant about suspicious activity on social media and advised them not to engage in conversations with or meet strangers, or make advance payments for such services.

He added that the Hyderabad Cyber Crime wing had taken note of the advertisements and that appropriate action would be taken against those involved.

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