🔥 Trending Hyderabad Police Warn of 'Rent Boyfriend' Scam Targeting Young Women

The "rent a boyfriend" scam is a recent cyber fraud trend in Hyderabad, India, where criminals exploit social media platforms to target young women. Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar issued a warning about this scam on Saturday, August 8, 2026, advising women to be cautious of such offers ¹²⁷.

How the Scam Works

The fraudsters behind this scam use various tactics to deceive victims:

• Fake Profiles and AI-Generated Images: Scammers create fake profiles on social media platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and Facebook. They often use artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photos to make these profiles appear legitimate and attractive ³⁵⁶.
• Attractive Offers and Discounts: They advertise "rent a boyfriend" services, promising confidential and professional companionship at discounted rates ¹⁴⁸. Some advertisements even offer services for as low as ₹499 (approximately 6 USD as of August 2026) ¹⁰.
• Advance Payments: Victims are typically lured into making advance payments for these services ⁶¹⁰.
• Information Collection and Blackmail: Once payments are made, or sometimes even before, the scammers collect personal details from the victims. They then use this information to blackmail the women, threatening to expose their private conversations or details if they don't comply with further demands ¹³⁴.
• Exploitation: The primary goal of these criminals is to extract money from victims and potentially blackmail them ¹⁴.

Platforms Targeted

The scam is actively being promoted on popular social media platforms, including:

• Instagram ⁵
• Telegram ⁵
• Facebook ⁵
• Other social media and dating apps ⁹¹⁰

Police Warning and Advice

Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police and Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar have strongly cautioned young women against engaging with such offers ¹²³⁹. They emphasize that these seemingly innocuous advertisements are part of a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme designed to exploit individuals ⁴.

The authorities advise the public, especially young women, to:

• Be extremely wary of any "rent a boyfriend" or similar companionship offers on social media ²³.
• Avoid making advance payments for such services ⁶.
• Refrain from sharing personal details with unknown individuals online ³.
• Report any suspicious activity or offers to the cyber crime police ¹.