Pune techie scammed of Rs.40 lakh in matrimonial fraud online

A 33-year-old software engineer from Mundhwa, Pune, has filed a complaint with the police, alleging that she was defrauded of Rs 40.5 lakh by a man she met on a matrimonial website, who claimed to be based in Australia. According to the complaint lodged on Monday, the woman, who works with an IT company, encountered the fraudster on the matrimonial platform in September 2023, and their interactions led to promises of marriage between September and November of the same year.

Police investigations revealed that the man, posing as an Australian resident with a lucrative income, gained the victim’s trust through online chats and exchanged phone numbers. He exploited her goodwill by fabricating a financial emergency and requesting monetary assistance. Subsequently, he provided her with two bank account details, urging her to transfer funds to alleviate his purported crisis.

Over a span of a few months, the victim transferred a total of Rs 40.5 lakh to the specified bank accounts without verifying their legitimacy. However, when she sought to meet the fraudster in person in January, he abruptly ceased communication, leaving her distressed and cheated.

Senior Inspector Mahesh Balkotgi of the Mundhwa police emphasized the importance of verifying bank account credentials before transferring funds. He disclosed that both accounts provided by the scammer were held with Indian banks, underscoring the need for vigilance and caution in such transactions.

This incident comes in the wake of a similar case where the Mahalunge MIDC police apprehended an individual on February 14 for duping a woman of Rs 10.42 lakh under comparable circumstances, having initiated contact through a matrimonial website. 

These occurrences underscore the prevalence of online matrimonial fraud and emphasize the importance of exercising prudence and diligence while navigating virtual relationships.