Uran woman, 30, loses Rs 5.52 lakh to online matrimony fraud; police register case

A 30-year-old woman from Uran, who was looking for a suitable life partner on an online matrimony site, was trapped by cyber fraudsters who extracted a total of Rs 5.52 lakh from her in the name of various fees. Uran police have registered a case after the fraud came to light.

According to the information available, the woman registered on a marriage website in September. A man named Aviraj Deshpande contacted her through it. He won her trust by claiming to live in the United Kingdom. As talks of marriage began, her trust in him grew.

Later events showed that the acquaintance was used to plan a scheme to defraud her financially.

The day after Aviraj contacted her, a person named Kritika Rai spoke to the woman. She claimed to be a customs officer at Delhi airport and gave the woman startling news. The woman was told that a demand draft of 2 lakh pounds had arrived from the UK in Aviraj's name and that Rs 55,500 had to be paid for its registration. Believing that a large sum was coming from abroad, she sent the money to the account she was given.

Demands for money continued after that on various pretexts. Each time she was asked to pay a new fee, and she paid in instalments.

The next ploy was even more startling. The woman was told that Aviraj had sent a parcel containing 25,000 dollars in cash. A story was then fabricated that the customs department had stopped the parcel at Jammu and Kashmir airport. After this, a person named Gursel contacted her. He said a fee would have to be paid to release the parcel and complete other formalities, and money was demanded once again.

Hoping for marriage and a large sum from abroad, the woman trusted these people and sent the money. But despite paying repeatedly, the parcel never arrived. Finally she realised she had been cheated.

In all, the woman lost Rs 5.52 lakh. She then approached the police, and Uran police have registered a case. The investigation into the fraud committed using these names will be important.

Police advise caution when someone met online speaks of sending money, expensive gifts or parcels from abroad. People should not send money to a stranger's account in the name of customs duty, parcel release fees or registration. The identity of the other person should be verified independently. Those cheated financially should immediately call the cyber helpline 1930 or file a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.