Pune Woman Loses ₹2.77 Lakh to Cyber Crooks She Met on Dating App ‘Bumpy’; Police Launch Probe
Pune: Eight Held In ₹22 Crore Online Trading Scam Targeting Elderly Resident
Trust turned into trauma for a 42-year-old woman from Pune after her quest for companionship on an international dating platform ended in a costly online scam. The woman, who believed she had found genuine connections on the app ‘Bumpy,’ ended up losing ₹2.77 lakh to two different men who manipulated her emotions and trust with fabricated stories and false promises of marriage.
As per details from Faraskhana Police Station, the woman had downloaded the Bumpy dating app on August 1 and set up her profile. A day later, she came across a man identifying himself as Rohan Patel, who claimed to be living in the Netherlands. Their conversations quickly moved to WhatsApp, and before long, Patel told her he was traveling to India to meet her in person.
However, he later messaged her saying that customs officials had stopped him at the airport and seized 1,200 euros, allegedly demanding a penalty of ₹85,800. Trusting him, the woman transferred the amount after he assured her it would be refunded once he arrived.
While continuing her search for companionship, the woman also met another man through the same app — Leo, who introduced himself as a ship captain from London. He told her he had sent her a parcel containing rings, clothes, shoes, and cash. He even shared a tracking link to make the delivery look legitimate. Soon after, she received a phone call stating that her parcel had arrived at the airport and contained currency, which required a ₹42,500 penalty payment for release. Believing it to be true, she made the transfer.
Shortly afterward, she was asked to pay an additional ₹1.5 lakh under the pretext of “further customs charges.” Convinced by Leo’s assurances, she sent the money. However, when she inquired later about the parcel and reimbursement, he demanded extra money for insurance fees—and when she refused, he blocked her number.
Similarly, Rohan Patel also stopped responding after receiving the funds, leaving the woman without her money or the promised meeting. Realizing she had fallen victim to an elaborate scam, the woman approached the police and filed a complaint.
Faraskhana Police have now registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter. Officers have urged citizens to stay cautious while using dating or matrimonial apps and to verify any monetary requests received through online acquaintances.
“Fraudsters often prey on emotions, building fake connections before creating emergency situations to extract money. People should remain alert and avoid sharing personal or financial information with strangers online,” officials from the Faraskhana Police Station said.
