Posted on 8 August at 5:40 PM IST
Hyderabad: City Commissioner of Police V.C. Sajjanar has warned women and social media users about a suspected “rent boyfriend” scam involving attractive advertisements on platforms such as Instagram, Telegram and Facebook. Sajjanar shared the warning on X, cautioning users against online offers that promise personal companionship, coffee dates, movie outings and other services at discounted prices.
According to the information shared by V.C. Sajjanar, such advertisements may be designed to attract people with colourful posters, attractive photographs and special offers. Some posts reportedly promote services including coffee meetings, movie dates, shopping companionship, attending events and even full-day companion packages.
Promotional material associated with these advertisements allegedly includes offers such as “1st August Special – 50% OFF”, with prices reportedly ranging from ₹499 for a one-hour coffee meeting to ₹4,499 for a full-day package.
The advertisements may ask interested users to contact the individuals through direct messages to make a booking. While the profiles and promotional material may appear genuine, police have warned that users should not assume that the person behind an online account is actually who they claim to be.
How the alleged rent boyfriend scam works
According to the warning attributed to Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, fraudsters may use photographs sourced from the internet or images created using artificial intelligence to make fake profiles appear attractive and trustworthy.
Once a user starts communicating with the account, the scammers may allegedly attempt to build a relationship or gain the victim’s confidence. The victim may then be asked to make an advance payment, booking fee or security deposit before meeting the person.
Fraudsters may also allegedly send QR codes or digital payment details to collect money. After receiving the payment, the operators could block the victim or stop responding.
Personal information could also be at risk
The alleged rent boyfriend scam may involve more than financial losses. During online conversations, scammers could attempt to obtain a person’s phone number, photographs and other personal information.
Such information could potentially be misused for intimidation, harassment or blackmail. Users are therefore advised to avoid sharing sensitive personal details with strangers they meet through social media advertisements.
Police warn against meeting strangers
Another major concern is physical safety. An attractive photograph, social media profile or online conversation does not confirm the true identity of the person operating the account.
People who respond to rent boyfriend advertisements should therefore exercise extreme caution and avoid meeting unknown individuals based solely on online conversations or promises made through social media.
Parents and guardians have also been advised to remain attentive to the online activities of young people and discuss the risks associated with fake social media profiles, online scams and advance-payment fraud.
V.C. Sajjanar’s warning to social media users
The key message from Hyderabad Commissioner of Police V.C. Sajjanar is to remain cautious about suspicious online offers and avoid making payments to unknown individuals.
Users should not be tempted by unusually attractive discounts or promotional packages. They should also avoid sharing personal information with strangers and should report suspicious profiles and advertisements rather than engaging with them.
Anyone who believes they have become a victim of cyber fraud can contact India’s cybercrime helpline at 1930 and report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Raftaar e Deccan Newsdesk is the central editorial desk of Raftaar e Deccan, responsible for compiling, editing, and publishing breaking news, official statements, and verified inputs from reporters and agencies.
