Business
Romance fraud: ‘You’re willing to lose money, but not the person’
BBCA couple of years ago, London banker Varun Yadav downloaded several dating apps, hoping to meet his life partner.
On Indian matrimonial site Jeevansathi, meaning “life partner” in Hindi, he started talking to a woman who said her name was Rekha Shah.
After months of talking on WhatsApp and video calls, she asked him if he would invest in crypto trading with her – a decision which caused him to lose his life savings and left him feeling suicidal.
“You see all the signs, but you are so emotionally attached. You are willing to lose the money, but you are not willing to lose the connection,” he told BBC Radio London.
Varun was a victim of romance fraud, a growing crime that saw an estimated £106m lost by victims in the UK past financial year, according to Action Fraud.
Victims in London account for just under £14m of that total, with 1,276 reports of romance fraud in the capital.
The average victim lost £11,222, but Varun lost far more, totalling around £40,000.
This comes as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said banks are missing opportunities to help “break the spell” of romance scams.
They said some banks had gone to significant lengths to protect customers against romance fraud, but advised further measures, such as better detection and monitoring systems, identifying vulnerability early on, and compassionate aftercare.
The FCA also said firms need to train staff to spot red flags and critically probe customer explanations.
PA MediaVarun was initially cautious when asked to invest in cryptocurrency using a platform called Deuncoin, but was initially able to gain and withdraw money.
He was not aware of anything wrong until he made a big loss and the woman asked him to put in all his savings to recover the losses.
He then found he was unable to withdraw the funds, and realised “it was all one big scam”.
‘Fear and shame’
He said he thought his life was over after becoming a victim of romance fraud.
“I thought, I’ve lost everything. I’ve lost the person I thought was going to be my life partner, I’ve lost all my life savings.”
When he initially lost the money he knew it was a red flag, but said he “ignored the signs because of the fear and the shame”.
Now 41, Varun hopes sharing his story will help ensure others do not have to face what he went through alone.
“When I shared my story with my friends, a lot of them said they’d been part of a similar scam, but were too ashamed to say it.
“This is a trauma that will stay with me for life, but I’ve learnt coping mechanisms and rebuilt my life. There is hope.”
![Getty Images A text message being sent on a phone, reading 'I love [heart emoji] you. can you send me some money [heart emoji]'.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8c60/live/691d6cf0-aa7f-11f0-aa13-0b0479f6f42a.png.webp)
Getty ImagesWhat is romance fraud?
Romance fraud involves fraudsters creating fake online personas to gain someone’s trust and affection through the guise of a romantic relationship, and ultimately exploiting them for money.
They manipulate, persuade and exploit victims, often encouraging them to isolate themselves socially and requiring urgency and secrecy from the victim.
Action Fraud’s key tips for protecting yourself against romance fraud include:
- Never send money, vouchers or cryptocurrency to someone you’ve met online
- Treat people as you would if meeting in person, by asking questions and taking your time.
- Be cautious about how much information you share, and keep your social media accounts private and secure.
- Talk to friends and family.
- If you think you have been a victim of romance fraud, contact your bank immediately and report to Action Fraud.
- A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues in this story is available at BBC Action Line.
Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police launched a campaign to help prevent people like Varun from getting scammed.
This includes videos giving real-life accounts from victims, showing what romance fraud looks like, how to prevent it, and where to get further support if needed.
They have also undertaken intelligence sharing to trace suspects overseas, and collaborated with banks, dating apps and social media sites to identify fraud.
Det Supt Kerry Wood, head of economic crime for the Met Police, said: “Romance fraud is one of the most devastating types of fraud we deal with.
“It doesn’t just lead to people losing thousands of pounds – it’s also an abuse of trust which has a devastating impact on people’s confidence and sense of self-worth.
“Awareness is the most powerful defence against fraud. By talking openly, we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities from this deeply personal and damaging crime and bring those responsible to justice.”
Meanwhile, Varun was not able to recover the money he lost, but said “I’ve made my peace with it” and has rebuilt his life since.
He is encouraging anyone going through romance fraud to “reach out to family, friends and colleagues”, adding, “whatever is happening, do not isolate yourself”.
Additional reporting from PA Media
UK inflation could have ticked higher last month, as Christmas getaways helped fuel price rises at the end of the year, economists have said.
Some economists are expecting the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation to have risen in December after falling sharply the previous month.
Rob Wood and Elliott Jordan-Doak, economists for Pantheon Macroeconomics, said they were forecasting CPI to rise to 3.3% in December, from 3.2% in November.
A hike to tobacco duties, which was announced at the autumn budget in November, is set to have pushed up overall inflation during the month.
The price of plane tickets and hotels are also expected to have soared amid stronger demand for Christmas travel.
Analysts forecast that airfares could have jumped by about 30% between November and December.
But economists stressed that the choice of date for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to collect the latest inflation data would be crucial, as prices would have differed throughout the month.
If it was collected later in the month, travel prices could have been much higher in line with the school holidays, pushing up the overall rate of inflation.
Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist for Oxford Economics, said he thought the slowdown in the rising cost of living was “temporarily halted” in December.
He said: “Some of November’s downward pressure came from volatile categories, including clothing, airfares, and accommodation services, and this is likely to have unwound in December, although the choice of date for collecting the data will likely have a crucial bearing on the outturn for airfares.”
He is predicting a much sharper increase of CPI inflation to 3.6% in December.
On the other hand, analysts for Barclays said they thought inflation would remain unchanged at 3.2% in December.
They forecast energy price inflation to have slowed, while food and drink price rises to have steadied at the end of the year.
But experts said they thought inflation was still heading downwards this year.
Victoria Scholar, head of investment for Interactive Investor, said that “longer term, the trajectory for inflation is still on the downside, heading back towards the 2% target later this year”.
“November’s budget from the Chancellor was largely viewed as disinflationary owing to its contractionary fiscal measures, including tax increases and spending cuts,” she said.
“Plus, there are growing signs of slack in the labour market, also easing inflationary pressures in the UK economy.”
Business
Coffeemakers are the new centerpiece? India’s growing craze for cafe-like coffee at home; lakhs splurged on aroma and style – The Times of India
Spent a fortune on a coffee machine and those exotic beans to replicate that cappuccino you loved overseas? You are not alone. For many rich Indians, the coffee machine on the kitchen counter is no longer just for making a drink, rather it has become a lifestyle statement, as more people are trying to bring the cafe experience they enjoyed overseas, right in their homes.A growing number of young, affluent consumers are spending several lakh rupees on high-end coffee machines, specialty beans and cafe-style equipment to mirror the ambience of European coffee houses. These machines, which offer far more than basic espresso or latte functions, have become objects of prestige. Brands such as Versuni, SMEG and DeLonghi are increasingly being displayed as centrepieces in kitchens and lounges, erasing the line between appliance and art.
India’s coffee craze
From only a few hunderds six years ago, now, almost 20,000 premium coffee machines are estimated to be sold locally, every year, a figure that includes direct imports by companies, ET reported. This does not includes the large number of machines that individuals bring into the country themselves while travelling abroad or order through international e-commerce platforms. With limited availability of high-end brands and models in India, parallel imports continue to rise. Ravi Saxena, founder and chief executive of Wonderchef Home Appliances, links this trend to the rapid spread of neighbourhood cafes across Indian cities. He says this has created strong interest in recreating cafe-quality coffee at home. A trained barista, Saxena sells about 1.4 lakh coffee machines a year, including premium automatic models priced between Rs 60,000 and Rs 90,000. The appetite for premium machines is also visible among frequent international travellers. Gurgaon-based hotelier Rajat Gera placed an order for an SMEG machine in December for Rs 1.3 lakh and is still waiting for it to arrive at Indian ports. “It’s a piece of art that deserves to be placed as a centrepiece in the kitchen or lounge,” he says. The overall coffee machine market in India is valued at Rs 250–300 crore and is growing at more than 15% a year. Total sales across price categories reached about 4.2–4.5 lakh units in the last calendar year, compared with roughly 1.8 lakh units in 2019. While machines priced up to Rs 15,000 continue to dominate volumes, premium models are steadily expanding their share.
Struggling for the right taste
For some buyers, the shift is rooted in dissatisfaction with cafe offerings at home. Satyendra Shukla, who runs a boutique investment firm, bought a La Carimali machine for Rs 1.5 lakh two years ago. “I had to struggle for every cup of coffee in India. No cafe could give me coffee I liked. The right texture, temperature or taste seldom came together. Now, my well travelled friends say I make the best coffee. I look after the machine and spend a lot of time sourcing the best beans.” Others are prepared to absorb heavy import costs. Kolkata-based independent professional A Banerjee purchased a Philips machine priced at Rs 57,000 from Amazon UK for Rs 95,000 after accounting for shipping, customs duties and currency conversion. Gulbahar Taurani, chief executive of Versuni India, attributes rising demand to young consumers exploring different beans, flavours, aromas and brewing styles, including coffee mocktails mixed with tonic water. He said the company’s pilot launch of premium models priced up to Rs 80,000 in India has been highly successful. Versuni plans to combine its global technology with adaptations for Indian preferences. While its entire range is currently imported, Taurani has not ruled out domestic manufacturing as volumes grow. Retailers are also reporting strong traction. Coffee machines are among the fastest-moving categories in stores. Vijay Sales sells 400–500 units every month. “Coffee machines have become a lifestyle product. While most of the demand is still in the entry- to mid-segment, premium models are also selling fast. This could become a big category in the next three to four years,” said Nilesh Gupta, director, Vijay Sales. What was once a simple kitchen tool is rapidly turning into a lifestyle statement, as coffee drinkers in the country are investing not just in caffeine, but in culture and cachet at home.
Last Updated:
Bharat Coking Coal IPO, a Coal India subsidiary, lists on BSE and NSE January 19, 2026, with a strong GMP.
Bharat Coking Coal IPO: Listing Price Prediction. Shares to be listed tomorrow, January 19, 2026.
Bharat Coking Coal IPO Listing Price Prediction, GMP: The allotment of the Bharat Coking Coal IPO was concluded on January 14, 2026. Now, investors are eyeing the listing of the shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE), which is likely to take place on Monday, January 19, 2026.
The investors who have been allotted the unlisted shares of the Bharat Coking Coal IPO might be checking the grey market premium regularly.
The IPO was open for public subscription between January 9 and January 13. It received a massive overall subscription of 143.85 times subscription. Its retail category received 49.37x subscription, its non-institutional investor (NII) category received 240.49 times subscription, and its qualified institutional buyer (QIB) portion got 310.81 times bidding.
Bharat Coking Coal IPO Listing Date
The shares of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), will be listed on both the BSE and the NSE on January 19, Monday.
Bharat Coking Coal IPO Listing Price Prediction, GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd are currently trading at Rs 35.4 apiece in the grey market, which is a 53.91 per cent premium over the IPO price of Rs 23. It indicates a strong listing gains for investors. Its listing will take place on Monday, January 19.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Bharat Coking Coal IPO Allotment Status
The Bharat Coking Coal IPO allotment has already been finalised.
The allotment status can be checked online by following these steps:
Via Official Registrar
1) Visit registrar Kfin Technologies’ portal – https://ipostatus.kfintech.com/.
2) Under ‘Select Company’, select ‘Bharat Coking Coal Limited’ from the drop-box.
3) Enter your application number, demat account, or permanent account number (PAN).
5) Then, click on the ‘Submit’ button.
Your share application status will appear on your screen.
Via the BSE
1) Go to the official BSE website via the URL — https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx.
2) Under ‘Issue Type’, select ‘Equity’.
3) Under ‘Issue Name’, select ‘Bharat Coking Coal Limited’ in the drop box.
4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN). Those who want to check their allotment status via PAN can select the ‘Permanent Account Number’ option.
5) Then, click on the ‘I am not a robot’ to verify yourself and hit the ‘Search’ option.
Your share application status will appear on your screen.
Via NSE’s Website
The allotment status can also be checked on the NSE’s website at https://www.nseindia.com/invest/check-trades-bids-verify-ipo-bids.
Bharat Coking Coal IPO: More Details
According to the red herring prospectus (RHP), the maiden public issue is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of 46.57 crore equity shares by Coal India.
The listing of BCCL is part of the government’s broader divestment push in the coal sector, aimed at unlocking value in Coal India’s subsidiaries and enhancing transparency through market discipline.
In its prospectus, the company stated that the IPO will help achieve the benefits of listing.
BCCL will make its stock market debut on January 16. The company said that half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors.
Last year, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDIL), another wholly-owned arm of Coal India, had also filed its draft papers with Sebi for an IPO via the OFS route.
While BCCL is a coal-producing entity, CMPDIL serves as Coal India’s technical and planning arm.
Bharat Coking Coal was the largest coking coal producer in India in fiscal 2025, according to a Crisil report. It produces various grades of coking coal, non-coking coal and washed coals for applications primarily in the steel and power industries.
The company was incorporated in 1972 to mine and supply coking coal concentrated in mines located at Jharia, Jharkhand and Raniganj, West Bengal coalfields.
The public sector firm has expanded operations significantly over the years, with coal production increasing from 30.51 million tonnes in fiscal 2022 to 40.50 million tonnes in fiscal 2025, which is an increase of 33 per cent. Its coal production stood at 15.75 million tonnes in the six months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to 19.09 million tonnes in the year-ago period.
The company operates a network of 34 operational mines, including 4 underground mines, 26 opencast mines, and 4 mixed mines as of September 30, 2025.
On the financial front, Bharat Coking Coal’s revenues from operations stood at Rs 13,802 crore and profit of Rs 1,204 crore in FY25.
BCCL’s issue comes against the backdrop of a blockbuster year for the primary market.
In 2025, companies raised a record nearly Rs 1.76 lakh crore through IPOs, buoyed by strong domestic liquidity, resilient investor sentiment and a supportive macroeconomic environment. This surpassed the Rs 1.6 lakh crore mobilised by 90 firms in 2024 and the Rs 49,436 crore raised by 57 companies in 2023.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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January 18, 2026, 09:31 IST
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