Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: How a Dating App Chat Turned Into a Rs 1.5 Lakh Sextortion Trap

If you believe video calls are always real, the Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam is a wake-up call for you. A 22-year-old software professional in Bengaluru lost Rs 1.5 lakh after trusting what looked like a genuine dating app match, but was actually a deepfake-powered sextortion trap.

You might think that this can not happen to you. However, as AI is getting smarter and scams are getting more convincing, any person looking for companionship online can become a target.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: How the Trap Began

You start with hope. That’s exactly what the victim did when he signed up on the dating app Happn on January 5. He matched with a profile named “Ishani,” exchanged messages, and soon shifted the chat to WhatsApp, something many users do without thinking twice.

By evening, a video call came in. The woman appeared real, spoke confidently, and gradually turned the conversation intimate. You can imagine how quickly trust builds in such moments.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: The Deepfake Video Call Twist

Here is where the Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam takes a dark turn. During the call, the woman seduced the victim to strip. The whole conversation was tape recorded without his knowledge.

Police believe the video was AI-generated, designed to look live and authentic. You assume the person on the screen is real, after all, it’s a video call. That assumption cost the techie dearly.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: Blackmail and Money Trail

Soon after the call ended, threatening messages started pouring in. The fraudsters warned that the recorded video would be sent to the victim’s friends and contacts if he didn’t pay up.

Overcome by fear and embarrassment, you might react the same way. The techie initially transferred Rs 60,000. When the threats continued, he borrowed money from a friend and sent another Rs 93,000 through multiple transactions and UPI IDs. In total, he lost Rs 1.5 lakh.

Despite paying, the pressure didn’t stop, a common pattern in sextortion cases.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: Police Case and Investigation

When the victim finally spoke to friends, they advised him to approach the police. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and Section 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Cybercrime officials say such dating apps–linked sextortion cases are rising rapidly, especially with AI-generated videos making scams harder to detect.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: Why You Could Be the Next Target

You may be tech-savvy and may notice scam, but AI has changed the game. Fraudsters now use:

• The Deepfake videos that look live
• Emotional manipulation in private calls
• Fear of social embarrassment to force payments

When emotions are involved, logic often takes a back seat.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: How You Can Protect Yourself

It does not mean that you should quit dating apps, but you must be alert.

To keep yourself safe, follow these precautions: 

• Avoid intimate video calls with strangers
• Don’t move conversations too quickly to the personal levels
• Never share personal photos, videos and contact lists
• If threatened, do not panic or pay, report to cybercrime authorities as soon as possible

One smart decision will help to avoid severe financial and emotional losses.

Bengaluru Techie AI Girlfriend Scam: A Growing Digital Danger

This case highlights a chilling fact, which is that you can no longer rely on appearances online. With the development of AI, digital crimes will be even more sophisticated. It is always better to be informed.

If something feels off, trust your instincts. A prudent moment will save you months of trouble, stress, and lakhs of rupees.

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