Pune Cyber Police have warned residents against social media advertisements offering rented garba partners during Navratri, saying the posts may be used to collect advance UPI payments or steal confidential banking information through fake links.
The advertisements, circulating on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, promise companionship at garba and dandiya events along with services including traditional attire, dance guidance, photographs, Instagram reels and, in some packages, a kiss on the forehead. The promotions are being presented as a way for people attending events alone to book a partner for the festival.
According to the report, the advertised packages range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. A silver package reportedly offers about two hours of companionship, basic garba instruction and photographs. A gold package extends the association to four hours and includes reels, photographs and a fictional story about how the pair first met. A platinum package is advertised as a VIP option, with longer companionship, dance training and assistance with festival accessories.
Pune Cyber Police have cautioned citizens not to treat the advertisements merely as humorous or harmless social media content. Senior Police Inspector Swapnali Shinde said criminals continuously develop new methods linked to festivals and that the promotions could be used for online fraud. She warned that fraudsters may send fake links while claiming to verify a booking, potentially exposing passwords and other confidential banking details.
The suspected fraud pattern involves creating fake social media profiles, posting attractive advertisements and asking interested users to pay an advance booking amount through UPI. After receiving the money, the operators may block the customer and disappear, the report said. In other cases, victims may be directed to links designed to obtain sensitive financial information.
The warning comes as large numbers of residents gather for garba and dandiya events across Pune and Maharashtra. People attending alone may be targeted through advertisements that use the festival’s social setting and the desire for companionship as an online lure. Meeting unknown individuals contacted through unverified accounts may also create personal safety concerns, particularly when events continue late into the night.
The police have advised residents not to send advance payments to unverified profiles or unknown individuals, avoid clicking links received through unsolicited direct messages and never share bank passwords or other confidential information. Citizens have also been asked to check the authenticity of any service before making a payment and to report suspicious accounts or suspected fraud promptly.
Anyone who loses money or encounters a suspected cyber-fraud attempt should contact the local cyber police department or file a complaint through the national cybercrime complaint portal. The police advice is to report suspected fraud without delay rather than continuing communication with the account or attempting further payment verification through links sent by the suspected operators.
