A 51-year-old businessman from Ahmedabad was allegedly defrauded of 1.10 crore rupees after being lured into a fictitious pharmaceutical investment scheme by an individual posing as a Canadian resident on a matrimonial platform. The complainant, who had created an online profile while seeking a second marriage following the death of his wife, reported the matter after the woman abruptly ceased all communication once the funds were transferred. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has registered a complaint and initiated a comprehensive investigation into the multi-stage financial fraud.
Trust built through matrimonial platform diverted to raw material venture
According to investigators, the victim initially established contact with the woman on a matrimonial website where she claimed to be living in Canada. Their early exchanges focused on courtship, personal background, and the prospect of marriage. Over time, as regular communication continued, the businessman placed trust in the developing relationship.
Once this mutual confidence was established, the suspect steered conversations toward commercial investments. She introduced an alleged business opportunity involving raw materials used in the pharmaceutical industry and assured him that investing in the sector would yield lucrative profits.
Repeated fund transfers culminate in sudden loss of communication
Persuaded by the assurances of substantial financial returns, the businessman agreed to participate in the venture. He subsequently transferred money in multiple installments into various accounts designated by the woman during their online interactions. The cumulative amount transferred over time reached 1.10 crore rupees.
When the complainant later sought updates regarding the progress of the business and the disbursement of his promised profits, the situation changed. The woman became completely unreachable, leaving phone calls and digital messages unanswered. Realising that no returns were forthcoming and that his trust had been exploited for financial fraud, the businessman approached law enforcement authorities.
Cyber Crime Branch probes accounts and organised syndicate links
Following the formal complaint, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch began examining electronic records, call details, text conversations, and financial transactions linked to the incident. Investigators are working to uncover the actual identity of the person who claimed to reside in Canada and determine whether the suspect operated independently or functioned as part of a wider organised cybercrime syndicate.
Authorities are actively tracing the domestic and overseas banking channels through which the 1.10 crore rupees were routed. In light of the incident, cybercrime experts have advised users of matrimonial platforms to carry out independent verification of personal identities, corporate credentials, and bank accounts before transferring funds to individuals encountered online.
