Nagpur Woman Loses Rs 16 Lakh in Online Romance Scam; Cyber Cell Recovers Partial Amount

A 55-year-old woman from Nagpur was duped of Rs 16 lakh by a cyber fraudster who posed as her online boyfriend, claiming to be an American national. The fraud, which began on social media, is the latest example of rising romance scams targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals.

According to the Cyber Cell, the victim was contacted by the fraudster through a social media platform. The man, pretending to be a wealthy and charming American, praised her profile and soon built a close relationship with her. He promised to visit India and claimed to have sent her a gift package containing an expensive necklace.

“He created a false sense of intimacy and emotional trust,” said Baliram Sutar, Senior Inspector of the Cyber Cell. “He even sent fake photos of the gift and courier tracking details to make the story believable.”

Soon after, the woman received messages stating that the parcel was held up at customs. She was asked to pay various charges, including GST and customs duties, to release the package. Trusting the fraudster, she transferred Rs 16 lakh in multiple transactions.

“The fraudster used emotional manipulation and fake documents to make the process look genuine,” Sutar added. “It’s a classic romance scam.”

The woman became suspicious and approached the Cyber Cell, which launched an immediate investigation. The money trail led to an Indian bank account belonging to a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), with further transactions traced to Dubai.

“This was a well-planned operation involving Indian banks like the Bank of India and State Bank of India, with international links,” said Sutar.

Thanks to timely action, the Cyber Cell managed to block the suspect bank account before all the funds were withdrawn. A part of the stolen money has been recovered and returned to the victim.

“Time plays a crucial role in such cases. If reported early, there’s a better chance of recovering the money,” Sutar emphasized.

Authorities have urged the public, especially women using social media, to be cautious of online relationships and to avoid sending money to people they have never met in person.