Bengaluru techie falls victim to dating app extortion racket; 6 arrested

A Bengaluru-based tech professional found himself at the center of a shocking extortion scam that began with a dating app match and ended with a police investigation. After connecting with a woman named Sangeetha on Bumble, the two exchanged messages and video calls over several weeks. Eventually, they decided to meet in person at a local café, which then progressed to a private room where they intended to have drinks and unwind.

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However, what seemed like a casual date quickly spiraled into a terrifying experience. Four men stormed into the room, accused the techie of being involved in a drug-fueled party, and proceeded to stage a search. They dramatically pulled out white powder from Sangeetha’s bag, falsely presenting it as illegal substances. As tensions escalated, Sangeetha locked herself in another room, crying and claiming she would take her life due to the supposed scandal.

The group demanded Rs 15 lakh to keep the incident quiet, eventually settling for Rs 2 lakh, which the man paid out of fear of legal trouble and public disgrace. After regaining composure, he approached the police three days later. Investigations revealed the entire incident had been carefully planned. The white substance was baking soda, and Sangeetha was working with the gang to extort money from unsuspecting victims.

Authorities have arrested six individuals linked to the incident, including Sangeetha and five male accomplices, for orchestrating the elaborate scam. Police confirmed this is part of a larger network targeting individuals through dating platforms.