Discounts, fake dates, then blackmail: How 'rent boyfriend' ads trap young women

Hyderabad Police have warned young women about fake rent boyfriend offers on social media. The schemes are being used to steal money, collect personal details and blackmail victims.Hyderabad Police have warned young women about fake rent boyfriend offers on social mediaHyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar on Saturday warned young women against commercial "rent boyfriend" offers circulating on social media, saying they are being used by cyber criminals to cheat and blackmail victims. He said the offers promise confidential and professional companionship, but are part of a new "dating trap" targeting girls and young women.Sajjanar said cyber criminals lure women with attractive offers of companionship from handsome young men for coffee, a movie or shopping. In a post on X, he said such fraudsters use special discounts and polished promotions to draw victims in before demanding payments and collecting personal details.Tagging a poster of a typical offer, Sajjanar said cyber criminals were trying to induce women with discounts such as "1st August Special - 50% off." He said the fraudsters use photographs of handsome young men that are either AI-generated or downloaded from the internet.He said the criminals first collect money in the name of a security deposit, advance payment and booking confirmation, and then block the accounts of women who approached them. He added that after obtaining phone numbers and personal photographs, the fraudsters may also resort to blackmail. Sajjanar said the Hyderabad cyber crime police are keeping watch on such deceitful offers and will take action against those responsible as per law. He also said parents of young women should observe their social media posts and smartphone use to help prevent them from falling prey to cyber crimes, and urged victims of such frauds to approach the city cyber crime police.The warning from the police highlights how "rent boyfriend" offers on social media are being used to cheat women through fake companionship schemes, advance payment demands and threats of blackmail, with police asking families to stay alert and victims to seek help. - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 8, 2026 17:58 IST