A 32-year-old software engineer from Ullal Upanagara, Bengaluru, lost over ₹55 lakh to a cyber fraudster who posed as a potential bride on a Vokkaliga matrimonial website.
The victim connected with a user named Niharika Gowda, and the two began chatting regularly. The woman swiftly steered the conversation toward marriage, building trust with the techie. As the bond grew stronger, she pitched a cryptocurrency investment opportunity, claiming it offered high returns.
She then shared a link to a fraudulent website and guided him through the process of creating a digital wallet. Convinced by her confidence, the man initially invested ₹1 lakh. The fake site showed encouraging profits, prompting him to make more deposits.
Over time, he transferred a total of ₹55.64 lakh across several transactions, believing he was making sound investments for their future together.
However, when he attempted to withdraw his earnings, the platform became unresponsive, and the woman vanished without a trace. That’s when he realized he had been scammed.
The incident highlights a rising trend where cybercriminals exploit matrimonial platforms to deceive emotionally vulnerable individuals under the guise of love and marriage.
Police have launched a probe into the matter, urging the public to exercise extreme caution while engaging on such platforms, especially when financial investments are involved.