Bengaluru:
A 34-year-old software engineer in Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹6.43 lakh by a man who posed as an NRI orthopaedic doctor, luring her into a sophisticated scam that began through a matrimony application.
According to the FIR filed on November 19, the victim was first approached on October 24 by the accused, who claimed to be a Netherlands-based orthopaedic surgeon. The scammer soon shifted their conversation from the matrimony platform to Telegram and regular phone calls, gradually gaining her trust.
Initial Money Request
On November 6, the impersonator asked the woman for ₹25,000, citing personal expenses. He assured her he would return the amount upon reaching India, adding that he intended to set up a clinic in Bengaluru and had a job interview scheduled at a private hospital in Whitefield.
Escalation of the Scam
The deception escalated on November 13, when the accused told her he had transferred money to an agent in Dubai for hotel arrangements during his upcoming visit. On November 15, the woman received a message stating that he had “arrived” at Delhi Airport and urgently needed funds to clear procedures related to a demand draft in Euros.
Shortly after, she got calls from a woman claiming to be airport staff, demanding multiple payments for:
- Demand Draft Declaration Fee
- Registration Fee
- Insurance Fee
Believing the calls to be legitimate, the victim transferred ₹6.43 lakh via IMPS and PhonePe to the accounts shared by the fraudsters, reports NDTV.
Case Registered
Realising she had been cheated, the victim approached the police. A case has been registered, and authorities have begun tracing the individuals involved in the fraud.
Similar Incidents
- A Pune paediatrician was defrauded of ₹24.2 lakh in a separate fake land-lease scam.
- A 31-year-old AIIMS Raipur doctor was similarly duped of ₹46 lakh by a woman he met on a matrimonial platform.
