Dollar Gift’ Romance Scam: Man Duped of ₹40.44 Lakh by Fraudster Posing as Indonesian Woman

Emotional Trust, Foreign Dollars, and ₹40.44 Lakh Gone

A Digha Ghat resident was defrauded of ₹40.44 lakh in a classic “romance and dollar gift” scam orchestrated through social media.

Police revealed that the same fraud network targeted at least 7 individuals, siphoning off approximately ₹53 lakh in total. FIRs have been registered at the cyber police station, and a financial trail investigation is underway.

How the Scam Unfolded

The victim connected online with a woman identifying herself as “Huang,” claiming to be an Indonesian national. She alleged that:

• Her Indian-origin husband had passed away

• She inherited $2 million

• She wanted to donate funds for charitable causes in India

Over weeks, emotional rapport was built. Once trust deepened, the narrative shifted toward transferring the funds to India.

The “Gift Transfer Fees” Trap

The fraudsters then introduced staged financial barriers:

• Customs clearance charges

• Anti-money laundering certification fees

• Processing fees

• Income tax and regulatory payments

Believing he was facilitating a legitimate foreign transfer, the victim transferred funds in multiple instalments to different bank accounts.

When additional payments were demanded and communication suddenly stopped, he realised he had been cheated.

Related Case: ₹6.30 Lakh Investment Fraud

In a separate but similar cyber incident:

• A woman doctor in Patna lost ₹6.30 lakh

• Fraudsters posed as representatives of “Area Diversified”

• Promised high investment returns

• Disappeared after receiving funds

Both cases demonstrate structured advance-fee extraction models.

Multi-Layer Money Mule Network Under Scanner

Cyber investigators are analysing:

• KYC documentation of beneficiary accounts

• IP logs and digital fingerprints

• SIM card chains

• Cross-border communication patterns

• Transaction layering techniques

Preliminary inputs suggest the “foreign identity” was likely a psychological tactic, while operational execution may be domestic or transnational.

Rise in Romance and Gift Scams

Cyber experts highlight an alarming rise in:

• Romance-based financial fraud

• Dollar inheritance scams

• Foreign parcel/gift clearance scams

• Fake military or NRI identity fraud

The pattern is predictable:

1. Emotional bonding

2. Financial opportunity

3. Urgent fee requirement

4. Large transfer extraction

5. Disappearance

India records thousands of cyber complaints weekly, and emotionally engineered fraud is among the fastest-growing categories.

Psychological Exploitation Strategy

Fraudsters deploy:

• Loneliness targeting

• Authority positioning (foreign national, widow, professional identity)

• Sympathy triggers

• High-value reward illusion

• Urgency pressure

Victims often bypass rational risk evaluation due to emotional conditioning.

Police Advisory

Authorities recommend:

• Never transfer funds for foreign gifts

• Avoid unknown social media financial proposals

• Treat inheritance/donation claims as suspicious

• Verify identity independently

In case of fraud:

• Call 1930 Cyber Helpline immediately

• File complaint via National Cyber Crime Portal

• Early reporting increases fund-freezing probability

Financial Due Diligence Matters

With rising digital fraud, individuals and businesses must adopt stronger financial scrutiny practices. Whether handling personal wealth or managing professional finances through auditing services in India, structured verification and transaction discipline remain essential safeguards.

Cybercrime today is engineered.
Prevention must be deliberate.

The Broader Warning

Romance scams are not about love.
They are structured extraction operations disguised as emotion.

₹40.44 lakh was not lost to generosity.
It was lost to manipulation.

In a digital-first economy, skepticism is protection.