A woman in Pune was swindled out of Rs 3.16 crore by a man posing as a US-based NRI, whom she met through a matrimonial website
A 45-year-old manager with a private firm in Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, fell victim to an elaborate fraud, losing Rs 3.16 crore between June 2023 and September 2024. The woman, who had met the alleged fraudster on a matrimonial site, was deceived by his promise of marriage and eventual relocation to the US, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
A Deceptive Web of Lies
The woman made 350 transactions across 32 bank accounts during this period, exhausting her life savings and taking out loans from financial institutions. The man, who claimed to be from Alaska, initially contacted her after seeing her profile on the site. He convinced her to send money under various pretenses, including business losses, medical treatments, and even claims of detention in Istanbul.
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The fraudster maintained communication with the woman through video calls and phone conversations, which further built her trust
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He repeatedly asked for money under different guises, including needing funds for airline tickets and customs clearance
The woman only realized the fraud after he ceased contact, leaving her devastated.
Family Involvement and Police Complaint
The woman, deeply affected by the incident, fell into depression and did not discuss the matter with her family until recently. After confiding in a close relative, she was convinced to file a complaint. The Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber Police took swift action, registering a case based on her complaint.
Challenges in Recovering the Money
The police are now investigating the case, with transaction details sought from the woman’s bank. The challenge in recovering the money is significant, as the transactions occurred nearly a year ago.
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