Bengaluru. A 42-year-old woman from Bengaluru’s Mathikere area allegedly lost Rs 23.5 lakh in an online matrimonial fraud after a man posing as a doctor based in Scotland gained her trust with promises of marriage and later used a fabricated airport detention story to extract money.
Matrimonial Profile Used to Build Trust
According to the complaint, the woman had created a profile on a matrimonial website in search of a prospective life partner. Soon after, she was approached by a man identifying himself as Dr Vihan Mishra, who claimed to be a surgeon working in Scotland.
Over several weeks, the two remained in regular contact. During their conversations, the man reportedly expressed serious interest in marriage and gradually gathered details about her family background, profession and personal life, helping build a sense of trust and familiarity.
The alleged fraudster later informed the woman that he planned to travel to India on May 4, 2026, so they could meet in person and discuss their future together. Shortly after claiming to have arrived in Delhi, he allegedly contacted her again with an unexpected problem.
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Airport Detention Story Triggers Payments
The man told the woman that airport authorities had detained him because he was a British citizen and was facing certain procedural issues. The situation escalated when the woman received a call from someone who introduced herself as Neha Rani and claimed to be an immigration officer.
According to the complaint, the caller told the woman that Mishra was carrying gold and a substantial amount of foreign currency. She allegedly said several formalities, including clearance procedures and the conversion of British currency into Indian rupees, had to be completed before he could be released.
The fraudsters then began demanding money under different pretexts, including registration charges, clearance fees and processing costs. Believing she was helping her prospective husband resolve legal and immigration issues, the woman reportedly complied with the demands.
Police Begin Probe Into Money Trail
Police said the woman transferred a total of Rs 23.5 lakh from two separate bank accounts between May 4 and May 6. It was only after communication with the purported doctor ceased that she realised she had been deceived. By then, both the man who had promised marriage and the woman claiming to be an immigration official had become unreachable.
The victim subsequently approached the police and filed a complaint. Police said further investigation is underway to identify those behind the scheme and trace the money transferred by the victim.
