Telegram Honeytrap Scam in Hyderabad: ₹1 Lakh Lost, Then Extortion Begins

Hyderabad: A 20-year-old man from Yakutpura has fallen prey to a Telegram-based honeytrap scheme, losing over ₹1 lakh before the fraud escalated into a brazen extortion attempt, police officials said.

The victim was initially contacted by a user posing as a woman offering paid companionship. Armed with stolen photos, fabricated reviews, and manipulated screenshots, the scammer built a convincing online persona to win the young man’s trust.

Once the bait was set, the fraudster flooded him with a string of payment demands — ranging from “advance booking” and “security deposits” to “hotel reservations” and “manager fees.” Believing the transactions to be refundable, the man transferred ₹1,02,093 through UPI and bank channels.

The trap snapped shut when he was told to arrive at a hotel in Abids for the arranged meeting — only to discover no such engagement existed. Moments later, the fraudster dropped the façade and switched to intimidation, threatening him and demanding an additional ₹10,000.

Realising the deception had turned into extortion, the man immediately contacted the Hyderabad cybercrime police, who have now launched an investigation.

Officials say such honeytrap operations rely on fake identities, social engineering, and the victim’s fear of public embarrassment. The repeated ask for multiple “fees,” they warned, is a common hallmark of such scams.

In a public advisory, the cybercrime wing urged citizens to stay alert and sceptical: unsolicited messages offering companionship or premium services are a major red flag. “No legitimate service will ever require repeated deposits or security charges,” police cautioned.