Now Reading: Hyderabad police warn of ‘Rent a Boyfriend’ scam targeting women
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Hyderabad police warn of ‘Rent a Boyfriend’ scam targeting women
Hyderabad police have warned of a 'Rent a Boyfriend' scam circulating on Instagram, Telegram and Facebook, where cyber criminals offer personal companionship services at prices ranging from Rs 499 for coffee to…
The Story in Brief
Hyderabad police have warned of a 'Rent a Boyfriend' scam circulating on Instagram, Telegram and Facebook, where cyber criminals offer personal companionship services at prices ranging from Rs 499 for coffee to Rs 4,499 for a full day. Commissioner VC Sajjanar said the advertisements use fake or AI-generated photos, and victims are asked for advance payments or security deposits through digital wallets and QR codes, after which the fraudsters block them. Police caution that shared personal details can be used for blackmail and urge people to report such posts to the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.
The Indian Opinion
The 'Rent a Boyfriend' scam preys on loneliness with an easy pitch: affordable company. But there is no boyfriend, only a criminal with a stolen photo and a QR code. The lazy narrative here shifts blame to the victim for being 'tempted'. That framing lets the actual fraudsters off the hook. The test to watch for: how many quick registrations does the National Cyber Crime Helpline actually close? A number, not a warning, will tell us if the machinery works.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
