BENGALURU — A 42-year-old woman from Bengaluru has allegedly been cheated out of ₹23.5 lakh in a sophisticated online matrimonial scam after a fraudster posing as a doctor working in the United Kingdom gained her trust through a marriage proposal and later fabricated an airport detention story to extract money.

Police have launched an investigation into the case and are attempting to trace the individuals behind the fraud as cyber-enabled relationship scams continue to rise across India.

Marriage Proposal Used to Gain Victim’s Trust

According to the complaint filed with police, the victim had created a profile on a matrimonial platform in search of a life partner. Soon afterward, she was contacted by a man who introduced himself as “Dr. Vihan Mishra,” claiming to be a surgeon employed in Scotland.

Over several weeks, the suspect allegedly maintained regular communication with the woman, expressing serious intentions of marriage and gradually building a personal relationship. During this period, he reportedly gathered information about her family, profession, and personal circumstances, helping establish credibility and trust.

The accused later informed the woman that he planned to visit India so they could meet and discuss their future together.

Fake Airport Crisis Leads to Financial Loss

Shortly after claiming to have arrived in Delhi, the suspect allegedly contacted the woman and stated that he had encountered difficulties with authorities at the airport.

According to investigators, the fraudster claimed he had been detained due to documentation and procedural issues. The situation escalated when the woman received a call from another individual who identified herself as an immigration official.

The caller allegedly informed the victim that the supposed doctor was carrying gold and a large quantity of foreign currency that required official clearance before his release.

The woman was then instructed to pay various charges, including registration fees, customs clearances, documentation expenses, and currency conversion costs.

Believing she was helping her prospective spouse resolve legal formalities, the victim reportedly transferred money on multiple occasions.

₹23.5 Lakh Transferred Within Days

Police said the woman transferred a total of ₹23.5 lakh from two separate bank accounts between May 4 and May 6.

Authorities believe the payments were made in several installments after the fraudsters repeatedly created new reasons requiring urgent financial assistance.

The victim reportedly realized she had been deceived only after communication with both individuals abruptly stopped. Attempts to contact them thereafter were unsuccessful.

Investigation Underway

Following the discovery of the fraud, the woman approached law enforcement authorities and filed a formal complaint.

Investigators are currently examining bank account details, transaction records, digital communications, and other evidence to identify the suspects and trace the flow of funds.

Police suspect the fraud may be linked to organized cybercriminal networks that specifically target individuals through matrimonial and dating platforms.

Rising Threat of Matrimonial Fraud

Cybercrime experts have warned that matrimonial scams have become increasingly common, with fraudsters creating fake professional identities to gain the trust of victims before fabricating emergencies requiring financial assistance.

Common tactics include impersonating doctors, military officers, engineers, or foreign-based professionals and then inventing situations involving customs authorities, airport detentions, medical emergencies, or legal complications.

Authorities advise users of matrimonial websites to independently verify identities, avoid sending money to online contacts, and report suspicious requests immediately.

The case serves as another reminder of the growing sophistication of online relationship scams and the financial risks posed by fraudsters who exploit trust for personal gain.

HYDERABAD — Cyberabad Police have dismantled an alleged cyber fraud operation involving transactions worth nearly ₹77 lakh and arrested five individuals suspected of facilitating the movement of illegally obtained funds through a network of mule bank accounts.

Investigators believe the accused played a critical role in helping cybercriminals receive, transfer, and conceal proceeds generated from online frauds reported across multiple regions of India.

Police Uncover Mule Account Operation

According to officials, the arrests followed an investigation into suspicious financial transactions linked to several cybercrime complaints. Authorities allege that the suspects were responsible for arranging and operating bank accounts that were later used by fraudsters to process illicit funds.

Preliminary findings indicate that money received from victims was routed through multiple accounts before being withdrawn or transferred to other destinations, making it more difficult for investigators to trace the original source of the funds.

Police suspect the operation may be connected to a wider network of cybercrime facilitators operating across state borders.

₹77 Lakh Transaction Trail Under Scrutiny

Investigators have so far identified financial transactions amounting to approximately ₹77 lakh that are believed to be linked to the alleged fraud network.

Authorities are currently examining bank records, digital devices, communication data, and account activity to identify additional individuals who may have participated in the scheme.

Officials said the investigation is focused on determining the full scope of the operation, including how the bank accounts were acquired, managed, and supplied to cybercriminals.

Law enforcement agencies are also attempting to trace the ultimate beneficiaries of the transferred funds.

Mule Accounts Continue to Fuel Cybercrime

Cyberabad Police highlighted the increasing role of mule accounts in enabling cyber fraud across the country.

Mule accounts are bank accounts used to receive and transfer illegally obtained money, often in exchange for commissions or other incentives. Fraudsters frequently recruit individuals to open accounts or share banking credentials, allowing criminal proceeds to be moved quickly while obscuring the money trail.

Investigators warned that individuals who knowingly provide access to their bank accounts, ATM cards, internet banking credentials, or digital payment services may face legal action if those accounts are used in criminal activities.

Authorities Warn Against Easy-Money Schemes

Police officials urged citizens to exercise caution when approached with offers promising quick earnings in exchange for the use of personal bank accounts or financial services.

Authorities advised the public to never share account details, ATM cards, passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs), or online banking access with unknown persons.

Financial institutions and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that participation in mule account operations, even for a commission, can expose individuals to criminal liability.

Public Asked to Report Cyber Fraud Quickly

Cyberabad Police encouraged victims of online fraud to report incidents immediately through official cybercrime reporting channels and helplines.

Officials noted that prompt reporting increases the likelihood of freezing suspicious transactions, tracking stolen funds, and identifying those involved in cybercrime networks.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are working to determine whether additional arrests may follow as more evidence is analyzed.

The case underscores the growing challenge posed by organized cyber fraud groups that rely on extensive banking networks to move and conceal illegally obtained money across the country.

A criminal investigation has been launched in Maharashtra’s Palghar district after an Adivasi farmer alleged that over ₹50.27 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his compensation funds linked to the Vadhavan Port land acquisition project. The case has raised serious concerns about financial exploitation of tribal landowners during large infrastructure compensation processes.

According to the complaint, the farmer was originally entitled to approximately ₹2.93 crore for land acquired in Tawa village in the Dahanu region, covering nearly 2.30 hectares.

Allegation of Trust-Based Fraud and Document Manipulation

Police officials stated that the complainant, Kiran Palwa, has named three individuals — Suraj Gimbhal, Dharma Valvi, and Prasad alias Monty Patil — accusing them of deceiving him under the pretext of helping speed up the compensation process.

The accused allegedly gained his trust and assisted him in banking-related formalities. Investigators believe the group may have exploited his limited familiarity with financial documentation and digital banking procedures.

The complaint further alleges that during a visit to a private bank branch in Boisar in April, the farmer was made to sign multiple documents and provide thumb impressions. It is suspected that during this process, critical account-linked details such as the registered mobile number and email ID were changed without his full understanding.

₹50.27 Lakh Withdrawn Through Multiple Transactions

Authorities report that after the compensation amount was credited, ₹50,27,670 was withdrawn from the account through a series of transactions.

Preliminary findings suggest that parts of the withdrawn funds may have been used for purchasing valuables and consumer goods, including gold ornaments and clothing. However, investigators have clarified that these observations are still under verification and no final conclusions have been drawn.

A major concern in the case is that the complainant reportedly remained unaware of the credited compensation for several months. Due to the alleged change in contact details linked to his account, he did not receive transaction alerts or bank notifications, allowing the withdrawals to go unnoticed.

Investigation Focused on Banking Trail and Accountability Gaps

The fraud was uncovered after authorities examined account activity records and transaction histories. The case has triggered wider concern among tribal communities, many of whom depend on land acquisition compensation linked to infrastructure projects like the Vadhavan Port development.

Community members and local observers have raised questions about the role of intermediaries in facilitating compensation-related banking processes, calling for stricter safeguards and transparent verification mechanisms.

Financial crime experts note that altering registered mobile numbers and email IDs remains a common tactic in banking fraud cases, as it blocks transaction alerts and delays detection of unauthorized activity.

Police Expanding Probe into Money Trail

Investigators are now scrutinizing banking records, account modification logs, and transaction trails to determine how the funds were diverted and who ultimately benefited from the alleged scheme.

Authorities say the probe is ongoing and will focus on identifying all individuals involved in the suspected fraud network, as well as tracking the end use of the misappropriated money.