In a major cryptocurrency fraud, the cybercrime wing of the state police arrested four men, including two with ties to a Cambodian handler, for defrauding a Theni mill owner of Rs88.6 lakh through a fake matrimonial profile.
The incident, which unfolded over several months, highlights the growing trend of cyber frauds originating from matrimonial websites. Over the past 15 months, Tamil Nadu alone has reported 379 complaints related to frauds committed via matrimonial platforms, according to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Police have issued a public advisory urging people to be cautious of such scams.
The fraudsters used a fake matrimonial profile on the popular app Sangam to target the victim, a Theni mill owner. The suspect, posing as ‘Shree Harini’, built a relationship with the victim and, after gaining his trust, claimed to have made significant earnings through cryptocurrency trading. The victim was subsequently manipulated into investing Rs88.6 lakh through 25 transactions, believing he was entering a high-return investment opportunity.
Following the victim’s complaint, Theni police launched an investigation and discovered that the bank accounts used for the fraudulent transactions were registered under two daily wage labourers. These women were paid Rs2,000 each by C Nandagopal (30) from Erode to open the accounts.
Nandagopal then handed over the accounts to his associates, R Yuvarajan (33) from Erode and S Padmanaban (32) from Coimbatore, who were in contact with a Cambodian handler via Telegram. Another suspect, S Siva (30) from Erode, was also arrested for his role in the scam.
The police investigation led to the recovery of ₹3.9 lakh in cash, six mobile phones, 29 debit cards, 18 cheque books, 12 bank passbooks, and 46 SIM cards. These items were seized during the operation, which helped uncover the extent of the fraud.
The cybercrime headquarters has issued a warning regarding the increasing use of matrimonial websites by fraudsters to perpetrate scams. Fake profiles are created, often posing as potential brides or grooms, who then lure victims into making false investment opportunities seem legitimate. These scams include fraudulent schemes in cryptocurrency, real estate, stocks, and forex trading.
Police officials are urging the public to exercise caution when engaging with individuals online, particularly on matrimonial platforms, and to verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities before transferring money.
