Match. Date. Fraud: How Bengal Man Cheated 500 Women Of Rs 2 Crore — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated May 26, 2026

Severity: HIGH | View Full Scam Details

Match. Date. Fraud in India 2026: How a Bengal Man Cheated 500 Women of Rs 2 Crore in Job-Linked Romance Scams

In 2026, a new high-risk scam targeting women seeking companionship combined romance and fake job offers to swindle over Rs 2 crore across India.

What Is the Match. Date. Fraud: How Bengal Man Cheated 500 Women Of Rs 2 Crore?

The Match. Date. Fraud is a deceptive cybercrime where scammers pose as potential love interests to trap victims emotionally and financially. This particular case from West Bengal involved a man who exploited over 500 women by combining online dating with fraud tied to bogus job offers. Such scams prey on women actively looking for both relationships and employment opportunities, two very common aspirations in India’s youth.

Victims were approached on popular platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Indian dating apps — places where many look for companionship. The scammer created a compelling, wealthy persona and promised fairy-tale romances, mixed with lucrative job offers. Slowly building trust, he coaxed them into sending money under various pretexts, including visa fees, job processing charges, or “emergency” funds.

This scam is alarmingly widespread in India, reflecting a disturbing trend of cybercriminals combining emotional manipulation with financial fraud. Government bodies such as CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) have issued warnings on romance scams, urging vigilance. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) actively tracks scams exploiting women online.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Initial Contact: The scammer targets women on social media or dating apps, sending friend requests or direct messages with flattering words and fake profiles.

2. Building Trust: He quickly develops a romantic rapport, exchanging gifts, photos, and arranging small meet-ups or video calls to convince the victim of his authenticity.

3. Introducing Job Offers: After establishing emotional trust, he introduces a fake job opportunity, often abroad, promising a secure and well-paying role linked to his “business.”

4. Requesting Money: To proceed, the victim is asked to pay fees for visa processing, training, Aadhaar verification, or even police clearance certificates. These payments are often demanded via UPI apps or bank transfers.

5. Escalation: When victims hesitate, the scammer pressures them emotionally—threatening to cancel the job or relationship. He may even use SIM swap or Aadhaar misuse threats to scare them into compliance.

6. Cutting Off Contact: Once the scammer receives money, he disappears or blocks the victim, leaving them financially and emotionally devastated.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• Profile pictures and details that seem overly perfect or copied from internet images.
• Requests for money early in the relationship, especially for job-related fees or emergency funds.
• Pressure tactics to hurry payments or avoid involving family and friends.
• Lack of verifiable information about the job or employer—no official company website or documents.
• Communication mainly through WhatsApp or social media DMs rather than official email or phone calls.
• Promises of quick jobs abroad without formal interviews or processes.
• Sudden changes in story or excuses when you ask for proof.

What Happens to Victims

Victims face severe financial losses, sometimes losing all their savings. Many women fall prey to UPI fraud where payments become irrevocable, as India’s UPI system does not support transaction reversals easily. Additionally, these scams often involve misuse of Aadhaar details, putting victims at risk of identity theft, further complicating financial recovery. Some are emotionally shattered, grappling with betrayal and isolation after trusting someone they believed was genuine. Many also face social stigma or fear reporting the scam, worsening mental stress.

In certain cases, fraudsters exploit SIM swap techniques to gain access to victims’ mobile OTPs, draining bank accounts and blocking victims from securing timely help through phone banking. This combination of technological and emotional exploitation makes recovery extremely challenging.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cautions consumers against frauds involving unauthorized payment requests and urges verifying merchants or individuals before sending money via UPI or net banking. RBI’s helpline (Call 1800-120-1144) offers guidance on financial fraud reporting.

CERT-In regularly issues alerts on social engineering attacks, highlighting how romance and job scams use psychological manipulation to trap victims. It recommends never sharing personal or financial details with unverified contacts and encourages reporting incidents to cybercrime.gov.in.

The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) also manages the national 1930 cybercrime helpline where victims can immediately report digital frauds, including romance/job scam hybrid cases like this.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Verify Profiles Thoroughly: Use reverse image search and look for inconsistencies in social media profiles before trusting strangers.
2. Never Send Money Without Proof: Ask for official documents like job offer letters on company letterhead and verify with the company independently.
3. Avoid Sharing Sensitive Data: Do not share Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, or OTPs even with people claiming to be close to you.
4. Use Secure Payment Channels: Prefer trusted payment apps and never bypass app security features under pressure.
5. Decline Urgent Money Requests: Legitimate employers or well-meaning partners never rush you to make payments.
6. Report Suspicious Approaches Immediately: Inform friends, family, or cybercrime authorities as early as possible.
7. Keep SIM and Mobile Security Tight: Use strong PINs, enable two-factor authentication, and beware of SIM swap attempts.

What to Do If You've Been Targeted

• Stop all transactions immediately. Contact your bank or UPI app to freeze or block payments if possible.
• Report to the 1930 cybercrime helpline to register your case and get support.
• File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in providing all chat screenshots, call records, and transaction details.
• Inform local police and provide them with all evidence.
• Contact your mobile service provider to check for SIM swap activity or to secure your number.
• Change all passwords, including bank and email accounts, and enable two-factor authentication.
• Reach out to BharatsSecure.app to verify suspicious messages or profiles before engaging further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can UPI payments be reversed if I realize it’s a scam?
A: Unfortunately, most UPI payments are instant and irreversible. That’s why it is critical to verify any payment request before sending money.

Q: How can I verify if a job offer received via social media is genuine?
A: Check the official company website, contact HR through verified phone numbers or emails, and never rely solely on social media messages.

Q: What evidence should I collect before reporting this type of scam?
A: Save all chat conversations, screenshots of profiles, payment receipts, and any voice or video call logs that relate to the scammer.

If you encounter suspicious messages promising love or jobs, don’t wait to verify. Visit BharatSecure.app today to check if that invitation or request is a scam designed to steal your money and trust. Stay safe, stay informed!