Mumbai Interior Designer Duped of ₹21.5 Lakh in Elaborate Cyber Romance and Trading Scam via Bumble App

According to police sources, the victim recently came into contact with an unidentified woman on the Bumble dating platform. Initial conversations took place within the application, gradually developing into a personal relationship. Over time, the accused gained the victim’s trust, and communication was shifted first to Telegram and subsequently to WhatsApp, where the interaction became more frequent and convincing.

Once the victim’s confidence was secured, the accused introduced him to an alleged online stock and foreign exchange trading opportunity. She persuaded him to invest through a purported trading platform named “Darwinex,” claiming it could generate substantial profits within a short period of time. The promise of high returns further deepened the victim’s involvement in the scheme.

The fraud began on April 1, when the victim made an initial investment of ₹50,000. Shortly after, fabricated dashboard interfaces displayed fake profits, reinforcing his trust in the platform and the woman’s claims. Encouraged by these apparent returns, the victim proceeded to transfer significantly larger amounts over the following weeks. The accused allegedly orchestrated transactions of ₹10 lakh and ₹11 lakh in subsequent stages. In total, the victim transferred ₹21.5 lakh into multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.

As the deception continued, the victim remained unaware that the displayed profits were entirely fictitious and part of a coordinated cyber fraud operation. The matter came to light after the financial losses accumulated, prompting a formal complaint.

The Central Region Cyber Police has since registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the individuals involved and identify the network behind the fraudulent transactions. Authorities are examining digital communication records and financial trails linked to the case.

The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud schemes that combine emotional manipulation with investment scams, leaving victims exposed to significant financial losses.