Thane: A 29-year-old woman from Mumbra has allegedly been cheated of Rs 6.7 lakh by a fraudster she met on the matrimonial website, where he posed as a UK-based NRI and lured her with a promise of marriage.According to police, the complainant, a resident of the Kausa area, came in contact with the accused in mid-Jan. The two began interacting regularly over phone calls and messages, during which the man gained her trust and expressed a desire to marry her. Over time, he convinced her of his financial stability and claimed to be planning a visit to India, the police said. In late Feb, the accused told the woman that he arrived in the country but was allegedly detained at Delhi airport by customs officials for carrying valuables, including gold and foreign currency. He cited urgent “clearance charges” and sought financial help, assuring her that the money would be returned once he was released, the police said.Believing his claims, the woman transferred Rs 6.7 lakh in multiple transactions over a period of nearly two weeks to different bank accounts provided by the accused. However, suspicion arose when he continued to demand additional funds and repeatedly failed to meet her as promised. Realising she was duped, the woman approached the Mumbra police, who have registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS for cheating, along with provisions of the IT Act related to online fraud and impersonation.Police said efforts are underway to trace the accused through his mobile numbers and bank account trail. Officials have also urged citizens to exercise caution while interacting on matrimonial platforms and to avoid transferring money without proper verification.
