Hyderabad man loses Rs. 1.9L in Chat Zozo online dating scam
Hyderabad: A 28-year-old man from Hyderabad has reported losing ₹1.9 lakh in an online scam involving emotional manipulation and impersonation. The victim met a woman identifying herself as Madugula Saranya on June 3 through a dating app, Chat Zozo.
Saranya claimed she was an orphan, had not eaten for days, and urgently needed money to secure a job. Moved by her story, the victim continued chatting with her on WhatsApp and eventually transferred ₹95,000 to various UPI IDs she provided, believing she would repay the amount within two days.
When he asked for the money back, Saranya cited banking issues and continued to request more funds. On June 18, she claimed to have attempted suicide and introduced a man named Subhash, who said he was her house owner. Subhash assured the victim he would help recover the money.
Trusting him, the victim transferred another ₹95,000 to UPI accounts shared by Subhash. He told the victim the funds were involved in betting and needed to be recovered. By June 26, the total amount lost had reached ₹1.9 lakh.
Subhash later claimed the money had been deposited into his account and asked the victim to meet him at an HDFC Bank branch in Lingampally to return it. However, no money was returned. The victim has since approached the Cyber Crime Police Station to file a complaint.
Public Advisory
The Cyber Crime Unit has urged the public to stay alert to scams initiated through online platforms, especially those involving emotional manipulation. Key warning signs include:
- Requests for money citing emergencies or distress without in-person verification
- Excuses like banking issues or promises of repayment without legal backing
- Involvement of third parties who claim to help but demand further payments
- Emotional coercion, such as threats of self-harm
Citizens are advised not to transfer money to individuals met online, regardless of their claims. Personal and financial details should never be shared with strangers on chat platforms. Victims are encouraged to preserve all communication records, including messages, call logs, and transaction proofs. In case of cyber fraud, dial 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in. For emergencies, contact 8712665171 via call or WhatsApp.