Scams are no longer confined to phishing emails or fake lottery wins. A new breed of cyber fraud is emerging-one that preys on trust and human emotion. A recently filed FIR at Mumbai’s Cyber Crime Police Station reveals how a 29-year-old man lost ₹32.88 lakh in an elaborate crypto-based online romance scam.
A manager at a reputed firm in Jogeshwari East had been living with his mother and brother in Andheri East. In January 2024, he created a profile on the matrimonial website. On April 21, 2025, he received a connection request from a woman named Mahi Agrawal, who claimed to be working in Malaysia at a crypto investment company. Mahi introduced Rajesh to cryptocurrency and pushed him to try it despite his initial hesitance. Over time, her persistence wore down his resistance, and he agreed to make a small investment.
Mahi guided Rajesh in opening an account on a crypto exchange and creating a wallet ID. She then sent him a link to a suspicious crypto app, directing him to download it and register. Unaware of the impending fraud, Rajesh made multiple investments in USDT (Tether) through this app. Between April 21 and May 18, 2025, he transferred 32,537.7 USDT, amounting to approximately ₹30.9 lakh, from his crypto wallet to various unknown wallet addresses.
He also made payments through bank transfers and UPI transactions, totalling ₹1.98 lakh, based on instructions he received via WhatsApp from a customer support contact (+44 7588458438) allegedly linked to the fake app. In all, Rajesh lost a total of ₹32,88,000.
The Realisation of the Online Romance Scam
When Rajesh tried to withdraw his returns on May 18, 2025, the app demanded that he invest an additional 40,000 USDT. Sensing something was wrong, Rajesh called Mahi, who tried to convince him to pay more. Growing suspicious, he searched online and discovered similar scams linked to the app and contact numbers.
Realising he had been defrauded, Rajesh filed a complaint with the Cyber Police, sharing wallet IDs, transaction records, and contact details. The FIR lists violations under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including cheating, identity theft, and criminal conspiracy.
The Vigilant Blog covers the crime beat and has a finger on the pulse of the latest crimes and scams. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get more news like this.
What We Can Learn
This case is a glaring example of how cybercriminals exploit emotional vulnerability and lack of technical knowledge:
✅ Never trust investment advice from strangers online—even if it seems romantic.
✅ Verify crypto platforms before depositing funds. Stick to well-known exchanges.
✅ Do not download apps or register via links sent over WhatsApp.
✅ Always question the urgency and pressure to invest more.
✅ Report suspected fraud immediately.
Romance scams are increasingly targeting young professionals under the guise of legitimate relationships and investment advice. Stay cautious, and remember: love should never come at the cost of your life savings.
Covers the crime beat, spreading awareness about crimes, scams and everything dastardly.
Discover more from The Vigilant Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.