Bengaluru teacher duped of ₹2.3 crore by ‘US Engineer’ she met on matrimonial site

A 59-year-old widow from East Bengaluru fell victim to an elaborate romance scam after a man posing as a US-based engineer promised marriage and conned her of ₹2.3 crore over four years.

In a shocking case of online fraud, a 59-year-old schoolteacher from East Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹2.3 crore by a man who befriended her on a matrimonial website, posing as a US-based engineer promising marriage.

According to her police complaint filed on October 3, the widow, who lost her husband a few years ago and lived alone, joined a matrimonial platform in 2019 seeking companionship. That’s when she met “Aahan Kumar”, who claimed to be an Indian-origin drilling engineer based in Atlanta, working for an Israel-based oil company in the Black Sea.

Also Read:Cyber fraud attempt targets Sudha Murthy: Caller impersonated telecom official

Using emotional manipulation, Aahan quickly gained her trust, addressing her as his wife and promising to settle in India after completing his project. Within weeks, he began asking for financial help, first for food and later citing machine repairs, fines, and medical emergencies.

Believing in his promises, the woman transferred money repeatedly between January 2020 and November 2024, sending funds to two different bank accounts, including one under the name Madhavi. Over the years, the total amount reached ₹2.3 crore.

Also Read:Bengaluru woman duped of Rs 34 lakh in cyber fraud promising job and marriage

Her suspicion grew when Aahan started avoiding her calls after she refused to send more money. Realizing she had been duped, she approached the police. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act, and officials said efforts are underway to trace the suspects and recover the funds.

Police have urged citizens to stay alert and verify identities on matrimonial sites, especially when money is involved.