Dating app ‘girlfriend’ turns blackmailer, extorts Rs 5cr from advocate | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: A fraudster posing as a woman on an online dating app allegedly blackmailed and extorted Rs 5 crore from a 27-year-old advocate by threatening to leak his personal chats to his family and post them on social media. Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) registered a case following the victim’s complaint.According to police, the advocate from Izzatnagar came in contact with a person identifying herself as Disha on an online dating app in Aug 2025. Disha claimed to be a software professional and the two began chatting frequently. After developing trust, the advocate shared personal information with her.“The accused first sought money citing her father’s death and funeral expenses. I transferred Rs 4.3 lakh through multiple UPI transactions. As she did not return the money, I refused to pay further. Disha then claimed that she belonged to the transgender community and that her real name was Alina,” the complainant told police.Disha alias Alina allegedly threatened to defame him by sharing their personal chats and warned that a group of people would be sent to his house. The victim then blocked her number.Several months later, in July 2026, the accused allegedly contacted him again, claiming that her mother was hospitalised with a brain blood clot. Police said the threats continued, with the accused demanding money in return for keeping his chats private.“By threatening to share his personal chats with his family and post them on social media, the fraudster extorted crores of rupees between July and Sept 15. While most transfers were made online, Rs 77 lakh was paid in cash to receivers sent by the accused on four occasions in Gachibowli in Sept,” a TGCSB official said.The complainant said he paid more than Rs 5 crore from his savings, family savings and proceeds from selling a flat.After the threats continued despite the payments, he confided in his family and filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on Sept 19.TGCSB booked a case under BNS sections 318(4), 319(2) and 308, and Section 66-D of the IT Act. “Money from all online transactions went to a single beneficiary. We are trying to locate the accused,” the official said.