It began like any ordinary day in April 2023. Sitting alone in his Mumbai apartment, an 80-year-old retired man scrolled through Facebook, looking for distraction and perhaps companionship. Life had slowed down after retirement, friends had drifted apart, and conversations at home were often brief. In that loneliness, he sent a friend request to a woman named Shivi.
The request was ignored. A small rejection, easily forgotten. But a few days later, something unexpected happened — Shivi herself sent him a request. What started as casual greetings soon moved to long conversations on WhatsApp. For the elderly man, it was a spark of warmth in a life often defined by routine and silence.
Trust Built on Loneliness
Shivi described herself as a divorcee, mother of two children, and struggling to make ends meet. She spoke of hardships — sick children, mounting bills, and the pain of raising a family alone.
The elderly man, already touched by her vulnerability, began offering small help. A few thousand rupees at first, then more. Each transfer was backed by an emotional story: a child with a fever, rent overdue, or groceries left unpaid.
For him, these weren’t just financial transactions — they were gestures of care, a way to feel needed again. For her, they became the strings with which she slowly tied him into a web of manipulation.
From One Woman to Many Identities
After a few months, the story expanded. Another woman entered his chats — Kavita. She claimed to be a friend of Shivi, sometimes sending explicit messages, pleading for help with medical expenses for sick children.
Then came Dinaz, who introduced herself as Shivi’s sister. Dinaz dropped a shocking claim: “Shivi is no more.” She said she needed money to pay hospital bills and, when questioned, threatened suicide if he refused.
Later, a fourth woman named Jasmine appeared, again asking for financial help.
But cybercrime investigators now suspect something chilling — all these women might have been the same fraudster, operating under multiple fake identities to keep the scam alive.
The 734 Transactions
Between April 2023 and January 2025, the elderly man made 734 bank transfers. In total, he sent more than ₹8.7 crore (approximately $1 million).
Each transfer was a mix of hope and fear — hope that he was helping someone he cared about, fear that if he refused, something terrible would happen to them.
The money he had saved over a lifetime — pensions, investments, and emergency funds — vanished one transaction at a time.
Borrowing from Family
When his savings dried up, desperation set in. He borrowed ₹2 lakh from his daughter-in-law and even asked his son for ₹5 lakh, claiming he needed it for urgent work.
This raised alarms in the family. The son, suspicious, confronted him. After long questioning, the truth came out — and it shattered them.
They discovered not only the massive financial loss but also the fact that their father was living in an illusion created by strangers.
The Shocking Diagnosis
Doctors soon diagnosed him with dementia, a condition that gradually weakens memory and judgment. It explained why he failed to notice the repeated manipulation, why the same excuses felt believable again and again.
The realization was devastating — the family was dealing not only with financial ruin but also with a fragile health crisis. The elderly man himself was heartbroken when he learned the truth. He reportedly collapsed and had to be hospitalized for shock.
Cyber Crime Steps In
On 22 July 2025, after regaining some stability, the elderly man complained the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. An FIR was later registered on 6 August.
The case is now being investigated by the Mumbai Cyber Police. They have identified the names Shivi, Kavita, Dinaz, and Jasmine, but officers believe all may be fabricated identities. Tracing the mastermind behind multiple bank accounts, fake social media profiles, and international money transfers is proving challenging.
Experts Speak: Why Seniors Are Easy Targets
Cybersecurity experts say romance scams targeting senior citizens are rising sharply in India’s metro cities.
- Loneliness: Many elderly individuals, especially widowed or living apart from family, crave companionship. Scammers exploit this emotional gap.
- Trust Factor: Seniors often grew up in an era where trust was valued, making them more susceptible to lies.
- Digital Naivety: Limited technical knowledge prevents them from detecting red flags like fake profiles, unverified numbers, or repeated money requests.
- Cognitive Decline: In cases like this, dementia or other health issues can worsen vulnerability.
Cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia explains: “These scams are not about love, they’re about psychology. Fraudsters study a victim’s behavior, detect their weak points, and then use affection or fear to control them.”
What Families Can Learn
This heartbreaking case is more than just a cybercrime story — it’s a wake-up call for families.
- Open Conversations: Families must regularly talk to elders about their online activities, especially new friendships.
- Watch the Finances: Unusual withdrawals, secretive bank activity, or repeated transfers should be checked immediately.
- Cyber Literacy: Teaching seniors how to spot fake profiles, verify identities, and avoid sharing financial details is crucial.
- Use Helplines: India’s 1930 Cyber Crime Helpline and cybercrime.gov.in portal are available for immediate reporting.
Police on the Hunt
Currently, police are tracking the money trail. They believe the scammer may have used layered bank accounts and digital wallets to hide their real identity.
Officials suspect the fraud could be part of a larger organized gang targeting multiple victims. “The sophistication of this fraud indicates professional cybercrime networks,” one officer told reporters.
A Wake-Up Call for India’s Digital Age
Romance scams are no longer rare in India. With millions of seniors turning to social media for companionship, fraudsters have found a goldmine of opportunities.
In 2024 alone, cyber police in India registered over 2,500 romance scam cases, many involving huge sums of money. Experts believe the actual number may be much higher since many victims feel too embarrassed to report.
For the 80-year-old Mumbai man, the cost of loneliness turned out to be ₹9 crore, failing health, and broken trust. But his story may help prevent countless others from falling into similar traps.
Conclusion: Love or Fraud?
What began as a simple Facebook friend request ended with a life-changing scam. The story of Mumbai’s elderly victim is not just about fraud, but also about the emotional vulnerabilities of old age in the digital world.
As India embraces online connections, one question lingers: How do we protect our seniors from those who turn affection into exploitation?