Bengaluru School Teacher Duped Of ₹2.27 Crore By Man She Met On Matrimonial Site
Bengaluru:
A 59-year-old school teacher from Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹2.27 crore by a man she met on a matrimonial website, police said on Monday.
According to the complaint, the victim — a widow living alone — had joined a matrimonial portal in hopes of finding a companion. In December 2019, she connected with a man identifying himself as Aahan Kumar, a US citizen based in Atlanta, who claimed to work as a drilling engineer in Istanbul, Turkey.
Over time, the man befriended the woman, addressing her affectionately as his “wife” and frequently calling to inquire about her well-being.
“I was impressed by his mature behaviour and caring attitude,” the woman said in her FIR.
How The Fraud Happened
In January 2020, the accused began asking her for financial help, claiming he lacked funds for food. Out of concern, the woman transferred money to an account he provided. Soon, he requested additional funds for repairs, fines, medical costs, and living expenses.
Between 2020 and 2024, she transferred ₹2.27 crore through multiple bank accounts in India, police said. Despite repeated requests, the accused failed to repay the money and recently demanded another ₹3.5 lakh, prompting her to file a complaint on October 3.
Police Investigation
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have begun tracing the accused and suspect an organised cyber fraud racket operating under a fake identity.
Officials have also advised citizens to exercise caution while interacting with strangers on matrimonial or social networking sites, especially when money requests are involved.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
