Dombivli Woman Loses Rs 11 Lakh on Dating App Aisle: How a ‘PwC Employee’ Romance Scam Unfolded

August 26, 2026

A senior software developer from Dombivli has allegedly lost Rs 11,05,852 in a classic dating app scam. The woman, who works at LTIMindtree in Navi Mumbai, met a man on the dating app Aisle who claimed to be a PwC employee and promised marriage. Over four months she sent him money for supposed family emergencies — and never received a single rupee back.

This case is a painful reminder that romance scams are still thriving in India in 2026, even on apps marketed for serious relationships. Here’s exactly what happened, the red flags that were missed, and the practical steps every dater should take to stay safe.

How the Dating App Scam Unfolded

The victim joined Aisle looking for genuine marriage proposals. She matched with a man who called himself Sai Kiran Kondal Reddy. He presented himself as a well-educated professional working at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). They spoke regularly on the phone, built an emotional connection, and he promised to marry her.

They never met in person.

In April, the man claimed his father needed urgent kidney treatment. He asked for financial help. Trusting his story and the future he had painted, she began sending money through credit cards, UPI, and her savings.

He later sent fake screenshots and receipts claiming he had transferred large sums back to her — including one supposed transfer of around Rs 13 lakh from the UK and another Rs 8 lakh via NEFT. No money ever arrived. He explained the delays by saying the funds were coming from abroad.

Between 18 April and 10 August she made multiple payments totalling Rs 11,05,852. Her final transfer was Rs 1.33 lakh on 10 August. When the promised repayments still did not appear, she realised she had been deceived. She filed a complaint on the national cybercrime portal and then approached Vishnu Nagar police. An FIR was registered under Section 66D of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Why This Dating App Scam Worked

Several classic romance-scam tactics were used:

He targeted someone actively looking for marriage (high emotional investment).
He built trust through regular calls without ever meeting.
He created urgency with a medical emergency.
He used fake payment screenshots to keep the victim hopeful.
He mixed future promises (marriage) with immediate emotional pressure.

These scams succeed because they attack both the heart and the sense of hope.

Clear Red Flags That Appeared in This Case

Never met in person despite months of talking and marriage promises.
Rapid shift from romance to repeated requests for money.
Medical or family emergency stories that required urgent financial help.
Fake payment receipts and screenshots instead of actual bank credits.
Continuous excuses about why the money had not yet arrived.
Pressure to keep sending more instalments while “waiting” for repayment.

If even two or three of these appear in your conversations, pause immediately.

Official Cyber Safety Advisory (Do’s and Don’ts)

Do’s

Independently verify a person’s identity before trusting major claims (workplace, family, location).
Verify any medical or financial emergency through other means before sending money.
Check your own bank account directly instead of believing screenshots.
Save all chats, numbers, transaction IDs, and profiles as evidence.
Report suspected fraud quickly on the cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and inform your bank.

Don’ts

Never send money to someone you have only met online.
Do not trust screenshots of alleged transfers.
Never share OTPs, passwords, or full banking details.
Do not let marriage promises or emotional stories override basic caution.
Stop payments the moment repayment promises start failing.

How to Protect Yourself on Dating Apps in 2026

Video call early and repeatedly. Scammers often avoid or make excuses for live video.
Reverse-image search their photos.
Be extremely wary of anyone who talks about marriage quickly but avoids meeting.
Never share financial information or send money for any reason.
Use apps that have stronger verification, but remember no app is 100% safe.
Tell a trusted friend or family member if someone starts asking for money.
Set a personal rule: “I will never send money to anyone I met on a dating app.”

If you are looking for serious relationships, prioritise apps and profiles that emphasise real-world meeting and verification. We keep updated reviews of platforms and safety practices on the site.

What To Do If You Suspect You’re Being Scammed

Stop all communication and payments immediately.
Do not delete chats or profiles.
Report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Call your bank and request transaction recalls or blocks where possible.
File a police complaint with all evidence.
Block the person on the app and everywhere else.

The faster you act, the better the chance of limiting damage.

Final Thoughts

This Dombivli case is not rare. Romance scams on dating apps continue to cost Indian users crores every year. The scammers are patient, emotionally intelligent, and skilled at creating fake futures.

The most powerful protection is simple: treat any request for money as an immediate dealbreaker, no matter how genuine the person seems or how strong the emotional connection feels.

Have you or someone you know ever faced a dating app money request or scam attempt?
Share your experience (anonymously if you prefer) in the comments — it might help someone else recognise the signs earlier.

Stay safe while dating: