FPJ Cyber Secure: Woman Duped of ₹50,000 by Imposter on Matrimonial Website

Mira Bhayandar: A 28-year-old woman from the twin city, who works as a data analyst with a multinational company, was allegedly duped of Rs.50,000 by a person she came in contact with on the platform of a reputed matrimonial website. In her complaint to the police, the complainant (name withheld) stated that she had created a profile on the matrimonial website and received a message from the imposter showing interest in her proposal.

Duped in the name of investment

During their routine conversation, the imposter, who claimed to be a stock market investor, asked her to transfer Rs.50,000, which he could invest on her behalf in futures and options stock derivatives trading while assuring to return the money in a couple of days. The woman initially refused his request; however, the imposter mounted pressure by resorting to emotional blackmail, following which she reluctantly transferred Rs.50,000 via two equal transactions to the specified bank accounts. Later, when the complainant started asking for her money, the imposter began offering lame excuses, apparently to stall for time, and finally went incommunicado by switching off his mobile. Realising she had been cheated, the woman registered a complaint with the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police. An offence under the relevant sections of the IPC and Information Technology Act has been registered against the imposter. Further investigations are underway.