Executive of Gurugram-Based Consulting Firm Defrauded of Rs 38 Lakh by Woman Met Through Matrimonial Site
Gurugram, India – In a shocking incident, an executive of a consulting firm based in Gurugram has been scammed of approximately Rs 38 lakh by a woman he met through a popular matrimonial site. The victim, identified as Naman Aggarwal, was tricked into investing in a cryptocurrency called deuncoin, as well as being asked to pay various other charges.
The devious scheme unfolded when Aggarwal connected with a woman named Ridhi Sharma on the matrimonial site back in November 2023. Sharma, who claimed to have been residing in London for the past five years but originally hailing from Kolkata, quickly gained Aggarwal's trust through their conversations.
Seizing the opportunity, Sharma introduced Aggarwal to the world of cryptocurrency trading, persuading him to invest an initial sum of Rs 10 lakh. She promised to transfer a similar amount to his trading account, which ultimately turned out to be a ruse.
On December 20, Aggarwal received a distressing message informing him that the funds transferred by Sharma were deemed as money laundering and were now under scrutiny by financial authorities. He was given an ultimatum to deposit an equal amount within 24 hours in order to restore the normal status of his trading account, with a warning that failure to do so would result in a frozen account. Concerned about the consequences, Aggarwal deposited Rs 10 lakh once again, hoping to withdraw his money thereafter.
However, the plot thickened as the fraudsters continued to demand additional payments, using various reasons and charges to extract more money from Aggarwal. Despite paying a whopping Rs 38 lakh in total, Aggarwal soon realized that he had fallen victim to an elaborate scam orchestrated by Sharma and her accomplices.
Distressed and determined to bring the culprits to justice, Aggarwal promptly filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime East police station. An FIR (First Information Report) was registered against the unknown woman, along with the other fraudsters involved, under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
A senior officer from the Cyber Crime division assured that a thorough investigation is currently underway and that the culprits will soon be apprehended. Cases like these serve as a reminder for individuals to exercise caution and vigilance, particularly when interacting with strangers online.
Analyst comment
Negative news. The market for cryptocurrency may be negatively affected as this incident highlights the risk of fraud and scams in the cryptocurrency industry. Investors may become more wary and less willing to invest, leading to a potential decrease in market activity.
