Pimpri-Chinchwad: Woman Duped of Rs 3.16 Crore by Fraudster Posing as US-Based NRI on Matrimonial Site

Pimpri-Chinchwad, 15th March 2025: A 45-year-old woman, employed as a manager with a private firm in Pimpri-Chinchwad, fell victim to an elaborate online fraud, losing ₹3.16 crore to a scammer who posed as an NRI businessman from the US on a matrimonial website. The fraud took place between June 2023 and September 2024, with the victim transferring money over 350 transactions to 32 different bank accounts.

According to Senior Inspector Ravikiran Nale of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Cyber Police, the woman had joined a matrimonial website in early 2023, hoping to find a suitable partner. In May 2023, she was contacted by a man claiming to be an entrepreneur from Alaska, USA, who expressed interest in marrying her.

“Over time, their interaction moved from text messages to video calls, and she developed trust in him. He convinced her that he was struggling with financial issues and needed her help,” Nale said.

The fraudster first requested money under the pretext of business losses. Later, he manipulated her into sending more funds, citing bank account issues in Dubai, medical expenses, loan repayments, travel tickets, and customs clearance fees.

“In one instance, he claimed he was detained at Istanbul Airport in Turkey and needed immediate financial help. To make the situation believable, another fraudster posing as an immigration officer spoke to the woman, further convincing her that her fiancé was in trouble,” Nale added.

The woman, believing in his promises, exhausted her savings and even took loans from financial institutions to help him. However, when he cut off all communication, she realized she had been scammed.

The trauma of the fraud left the woman in deep distress and depression, preventing her from confiding in her family. It was only after her recent marriage that she opened up to her husband and close relatives. With their support, she filed an online complaint and later registered a formal FIR with the Cyber Police on Thursday.

“As the transactions occurred over a year ago, recovering the lost amount will be extremely difficult. However, we have begun tracking the financial trails and have requested transaction details from her bank,” Nale said.

The police are investigating the scam and have urged people to remain cautious while interacting with strangers on matrimonial platforms.