Hyderabad police have warned women of the “Rent a boyfriend” scam, which has been widely circulated on social media in recent days. The scammers allegedly lure customers, claiming that the rented individuals will take them for coffee dates, movie dates, accompany them for shopping, events, etc. Hyderabad Commissioner of Police VC Sajjanar said that this was a new ‘dating trap’ set by cyber fraudsters.
The Awakening X Post
VC Sajjanar, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, took to X (formerly Twitter) to alert the public, pointing out that eye-catching posters promising companion services, often with fake discounts, are a cover for cyber fraud. Sharing the post, the police official said “Displaying photos of attractive young men, the scammers present a detailed price list: Rs 499 for a one-hour coffee meeting, Rs 1,249 for a movie date, Rs 1,499 for a shopping companion, Rs 1,999 to accompany you to events or weddings, and Rs 4,499 for a full 10-hour package. They assure potential clients of complete privacy and safety, claiming the service is legitimate and not involved in any illegal activities, while urging interested women to send a direct message to book,” the commissioner said.
The IPS officer highlighted that the fraudsters use AI-generated images of men as profile pictures to text women and collect thousands of rupees via digital wallets and QR codes under the guise of booking confirmations, security deposits, or advance payments, only to block the accounts later.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police are actively monitoring such fraudulent advertisements, he said. The police have also asked any victims of such cyber fraud to call the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a complaint on the http://cybercrime.gov.in portal.
How Does The Scam Work?
Fraudsters share exciting advertisements on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram under titles such as "Rent Boyfriend - Your Personal Companion". The posts feature photos of attractive men, often created using artificial intelligence or stolen from internet profiles, alongside various service packages, including coffee date, movie companions, shopping trip, and more.
Once a woman falls into the trap and books the service, the scammers engage in conversations before asking for upfront payments. They demand money for registration fees, safety deposits, or advance booking costs via QR codes and digital payment apps. As soon as the victim transfers the money, the scammers block all communication.
"In this matter, girls as well as their parents should be extremely cautious. What kind of posts do your children see on social media? Who are you talking to? Whom do you meet when you go out? Parents should constantly keep an eye on these issues. If there is proper monitoring of smartphone usage, innocent children may fall into the trap. There is danger," the post read.
The police commissioner said parents of young women should observe their social media posts and smartphone usage to prevent them from falling prey to cyber crimes.