A 39-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker, Razel, was sentenced to 21 days in jail on April 4, 2025, after pleading guilty to a charge of cheating. Razel created a fake online persona of a young Filipina domestic worker named “Astuti” to scam unsuspecting men on a dating platform. His deception led to 43 male victims being cheated out of a total of $946 over the span of just over two months.
The case began in August 2024, when Razel learned that some men were willing to pay women on dating apps in exchange for companionship or a romantic relationship. Curious to see if this was true, he decided to test the idea himself by impersonating a woman on the dating app “Tagged.” He created a profile claiming to be a fair-skinned Filipina maid in her 30s named “Astuti.”
Once the fake account was active, Razel began chatting with male users. The initial test soon turned into a pattern of deceit when one man, believing he was speaking to “Astuti,” agreed to transfer $15 after being told it was needed to purchase a mobile phone plan. Emboldened by his success, Razel asked for another $20, this time claiming the plan had sold out and that “Astuti” needed to buy medicine instead.
Once the second transaction was completed, Razel blocked the victim on WhatsApp. The man, realizing he had been scammed, proceeded to lodge a police report. This single report would eventually uncover a larger pattern of fraud.
Court documents revealed that between September 10 and October 20, 2024, Razel had used similar tactics to deceive 43 men in total. He consistently posed as “Astuti,” requesting small sums of money under various pretexts such as phone bills or medical expenses.
On October 18, 2024, Razel recontacted the same man he had previously blocked, again posing as “Astuti.” When he tried to deceive the man again, the victim informed him that a police report had already been made. Upon learning this, Razel returned $35 to the man.
He was arrested on October 22, 2024, and has since fully repaid the amount he scammed from all victims. His defense lawyer noted in court that Razel is the sole breadwinner of his family and has a child under two years old. The lawyer also highlighted that Razel had cooperated with the authorities, pleaded guilty early, and made full restitution.
Despite the small amounts involved, the court took a serious view of the systematic nature of the offences and the deliberate deception used. The judge sentenced Razel to 21 days in jail for the offence of cheating.
This case serves as a reminder of the risks involved in online dating and the increasing trend of impersonation scams. Authorities urge the public to be cautious and avoid transferring money to people they have not met in real life.
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