In a shocking case that highlights the dangers of online deception, a Lucknow-based engineer lost a staggering Rs 15,98,506 to a sophisticated scam orchestrated through a matrimonial platform. The incident serves as a stark reminder that digital romance can sometimes come with a devastating price tag.
The Elusive Bride and Her Elaborate Scheme
The victim, a private firm engineer residing in Indiranagar, began communicating with a woman on a matrimonial site between August 28 and October 26. The woman presented herself as the daughter of a prominent businessman from Andheri, Mumbai. Through extensive conversations, marriage discussions, and WhatsApp calls that even involved a person claiming to be her father, she meticulously built emotional trust with the engineer.
Once she had gained his confidence, the conversation took an unexpected turn toward financial investment. She introduced him to NFM Capital Markets, an online trading platform, and showcased screenshots displaying over Rs 5.5 crore in her account to prove its legitimacy.
The Illusion of Profit and the Trap Closes
To further convince the engineer, the scammer orchestrated a fake bank deposit of Rs 3,50,421 that appeared in his UID-linked account. Believing the operation to be genuine, the complainant proceeded to deposit Rs 15,98,506 through multiple transactions. The woman allegedly showed fake deposits totaling Rs 13,50,421 from her side to maintain the facade of a legitimate joint investment.
The trading account soon displayed an impressive balance of $82,000 (approximately Rs 68 lakh), creating the illusion of substantial profits. However, when the engineer attempted to withdraw his funds, the platform demanded Rs 13,47,849 as "tax." He managed to pay Rs 8,47,849, while the woman claimed to have deposited the remaining Rs 5 lakh.
The Unraveling and Police Action
The scheme collapsed when the victim discovered a Hyderabad Police advisory explicitly warning against scams linked to NFM Capital Markets. Upon sharing this alert with the platform's customer service, his trading account and helpline access were immediately blocked. The woman, who had built such careful rapport, vanished after sending insulting messages as a final blow.
The engineer filed a formal complaint at the cybercrime police station in Lucknow. Brijesh Singh Yadav, incharge of the cyber cell, confirmed that "We have registered a case and probe is being conducted." The investigation aims to track down the perpetrators behind this elaborate financial fraud.
This case joins a growing number of online investment scams where criminals exploit emotional connections for financial gain. Authorities urge citizens to exercise extreme caution when approached with investment opportunities through social or matrimonial platforms, especially when dealing with unverified trading platforms.
