Bareilly: A shocking case of fraud has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, where a school teacher was allegedly duped of ₹22.5 lakh by a man she met through a matrimonial platform. The accused reportedly posed as a police sub-inspector, built a relationship under the pretext of marriage, and later cheated the victim through a series of financial demands. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway.
According to the complaint, the victim, Neha Gangwar, came into contact with the accused, identified as Ritik Kamboj, in January 2026 through the matrimonial platform Jeevansathi.com. During initial conversations, the accused introduced himself as a sub-inspector posted in Uttarakhand, which helped him gain the victim’s trust.
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The communication gradually intensified, and the accused expressed his intent to marry her. On February 21, both met at a hotel in Meerut, where he reiterated his promise of marriage and convinced her about his identity and intentions.
Marriage used as a tool for deception
On February 25, the accused visited Bareilly and persuaded the victim to transfer ₹10 lakh, claiming he needed funds to purchase a house. Soon after, he took her to Ghaziabad, where the two reportedly got married at an Arya Samaj temple.
Following the marriage, the accused dropped the victim back at her residence, maintaining the illusion of a genuine relationship. However, the very next day, he again demanded ₹10 lakh, this time citing expenses related to property registration.
Multiple excuses, continuous financial extraction
The victim alleged that the accused continued to create new reasons to extract money. He later asked for ₹2.5 lakh, claiming it was required for setting up a water plant business for a relative.
Trusting her newly married partner, the victim transferred the amounts in multiple transactions. In total, ₹22.5 lakh was transferred to the accused over a short span of time.
After receiving the money, the accused began avoiding the victim and delaying further meetings. His behavior raised suspicion, prompting the victim to verify his background.
Upon inquiry, she discovered that the accused was already married and had deliberately misrepresented his identity and marital status to execute the fraud. Realizing she had been deceived, she approached the police and filed a formal complaint at the local police station.
Police register case, investigation underway
Following the complaint, a case has been registered against the accused, and efforts are being made to trace his whereabouts. Investigators are examining financial transactions, communication records, and other evidence to establish the sequence of events.
Authorities suspect that the accused may have used similar tactics in other cases and are probing whether a larger network is involved.
Rise of ‘relationship-based frauds’
Experts say such cases are part of a growing trend of “relationship-based cyber and financial frauds,” where criminals exploit emotional trust rather than technical vulnerabilities.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said, “Fraudsters are increasingly targeting victims through emotional manipulation. By establishing trust through relationships—especially on matrimonial or social platforms—they bypass initial suspicion and gain financial access.”
He added that such scams often involve well-planned identities, fake professions, and staged personal interactions to appear credible. Users are advised to be cautious about sharing personal information or transferring money, even if the person appears trustworthy or claims to be in a position of authority.
