A Bengaluru tech professional became the target of a sophisticated honeytrap scam after connecting with a woman named Sangeetha on the dating app Bumble. What started as online flirting escalated into a harrowing extortion case involving fake drugs and threats.
Police said that after weeks of chatting via texts and video calls, the victim met Sangeetha at a local coffee shop. She lured him into an adjoining room where four men confronted him, falsely accusing him of drug possession. The packets allegedly containing narcotics were later found to be harmless baking soda.
Under intense psychological pressure, including Sangeetha pretending to be emotionally distressed and threatening self-harm, the techie was forced to transfer ₹2 lakh electronically to the group. The extortionists had demanded Rs15 lakh but disappeared after receiving the smaller sum.
Investigators have so far arrested Sangeetha and five associates: Sharanabasappa, Raju Mane, Shyam Sundar, Abhishek, and Birbal. At least one of the accused had prior involvement in similar scams. Authorities warn that such cybercrime incidents, often exploiting emotional vulnerabilities via dating apps, are on the rise.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police Sajeeth V J confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify additional victims who may have been targeted in similar schemes. Officials urge dating app users to exercise caution, verify contacts, and avoid financial transactions with strangers.
