A 42-year-old woman from Mathikere has allegedly lost ₹23.5 lakh in a matrimonial fraud after cybercriminals posing as a doctor and an immigration official gained her trust with a false promise of marriage.
According to police, the woman had created a profile on a matrimonial website while searching for a life partner. She was soon contacted by a man identifying himself as Dr Vihan Mishra, who claimed to be a surgeon working in Scotland.
Trust built through promise of marriage
The man remained in regular contact with the woman over several weeks and reportedly expressed a serious interest in marrying her. During their conversations, he gathered details about her family, profession and personal life, gradually earning her confidence.
The alleged fraudster later informed her that he would travel to India on May 4 to meet her and discuss their future together.
Fake immigration story leads to huge loss
Shortly after claiming to have arrived in Delhi, the man allegedly contacted the woman saying he had been detained by airport authorities due to documentation and clearance issues.
The woman then received a call from another person claiming to be an immigration officer. The caller stated that the doctor was carrying gold and foreign currency and required various clearances before being released.
Believing the story, the victim transferred money towards registration charges, processing fees and other expenses. Police said she transferred a total of ₹23.5 lakh from two bank accounts between May 4 and May 6.
Investigation underway
The fraud came to light when all communication with the alleged doctor and the supposed immigration officer suddenly stopped. Realising she had been deceived, the woman approached the police and filed a complaint.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to identify the accused and trace the money. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution while interacting with unknown individuals on matrimonial and social networking platforms.