‘Bride’ tricks businessman man into trading, vanishes with Rs 1.28 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A businessman lost Rs 1.28 crore after an unidentified woman he met on a matrimony website persuaded him to invest in online trading.According to police, the man had created a profile on a matrimony site seeking suitable alliances and the accused woman expressed interest in May this year. She then sent him her family photos, shared other details and also promised to visit him with her family in Sept.After earning his trust, she shared a screenshot of her ‘huge account balance' and claimed that she earned it through online trading. She then persuaded him to double his earnings through trading and shared a link for it."She told me that she was from Kerala and was working in a MNC. I was very happy to have finally met a girl I truly liked. She shared with me a link for online trading. As per her direction, I invested a small amount initially and earned amazing returns. Later, I invested Rs 20 lakh and the website showed that I have earned Rs 70 lakh. However, to withdraw it, the website authorities asked me to pay Rs 70 lakh as a refundable security deposit. After paying it, they kept on asking for more money and I ended up paying Rs 1.28 crore. Finally, I stopped making payments and asked them to return my investment. Soon after that, she stopped all communications. It was then I realised that it was a scam and approached the police," said the victim.On the complaint of the victim, city cyber police began a probe after registering a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318 (4) for cheating and 319 (2) for cheating by personation and also under Section 66 (D) of the Information Technology Act.