Pune Woman Duped by Two Dating-App Scammers: Gift & Airport Euro Fine Ruse

In Pune, a 42-year-old woman was cheated by two scammers on a dating app. One sent a fake gift parcel, the other claimed her euros were seized and demanded fines. Police investigating.

Pune | November 3, 2025 – A shocking cyber fraud case has come to light in Pune, where a 42-year-old woman from the Faraskhana area was duped by two cyber criminals she met on a dating app. Both accused posed as foreign citizens and trapped the woman in emotional and financial manipulation, ultimately cheating her of over ₹1.25 lakh.

According to the complaint, the woman downloaded an international dating app on August 1 and soon connected with a man who introduced himself as Rohan Patel from the Netherlands. The two began chatting on WhatsApp, where he pretended to form a friendship. A few days later, he told her he was traveling to India and that airport officials had confiscated 1,200 euros from him. Claiming he needed her help to pay a fine to release the money, he convinced her to transfer ₹85,800 to a bank account he provided.

Shortly after this incident, another man, who identified himself as Leo Matthew and claimed to be a ship captain from London, contacted her through the same dating app. He sent photos of expensive gifts and a link to a fake courier service, saying that the parcel would arrive soon. Later, he told her that the parcel was being held up due to “insurance and clearance charges” and asked her to pay ₹42,500. When he demanded another ₹1.5 lakh for further customs clearance, the woman became suspicious and refused to pay.

Realizing she had fallen victim to a scam, she approached the Faraskhana Police Station and lodged a formal complaint. The case has been registered under sections of the IPC and the Information Technology Act. Senior Inspector Uttam Namwade has confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway to trace the accused, who are suspected to be part of an international cybercrime network.

Police officials have urged citizens to remain cautious while using dating or social networking apps, warning that fraudsters often build emotional trust before tricking victims into transferring money through false stories involving gifts, customs penalties, or foreign currency. Authorities have also advised the public to verify all such claims and report any suspicious activity immediately to the Cyber Crime Cell.

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