Bengaluru man scammed ₹1.7 lakh on dating app

A 27-year-old man from Bengaluru lost ₹1.7 lakh to cyber scammers after meeting someone on an LGBTQ dating app. The man had created an account on Grindr a few months ago. In January, he connected with a user named Randy Armstrong, who claimed to be a cardiologist from the US. They had long conversations, and the victim was moved by Armstrong's personal story. On February 1, Armstrong sent a fake flight ticket and said he was coming to India. Later that day, the victim received a call from a woman claiming to be a customs officer. She said Armstrong had been detained at Delhi airport with a large sum of money, and he needed to pay taxes to avoid legal issues. Armstrong then called, sounding distressed, and asked for help. Initially, the scammers demanded ₹75,000. The victim borrowed money from a loan app and sent it through a digital payment platform. After that, the scammer asked for an additional ₹1 lakh. Despite his hesitation, Armstrong's emotional pleas convinced the victim to take another loan. When the scammers continued to ask for more money, the victim became suspicious. He then tried to contact Armstrong but found the number was switched off. Realizing he had been scammed, he was hesitant to report it due to fear of judgment. However, with encouragement from his sister and friends, he filed a police complaint in late February. Police said that by the time the complaint was filed, the money had already been transferred to mule accounts and taken by the scammers. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act. Authorities are urging users of dating apps to be cautious and not engage in financial transactions with people they have not met in person.