Pune: In a distressing case of matrimonial fraud, an 85-year-old resident of Bibwewadi was cheated of ₹11.45 lakh by an unidentified woman who approached him after he signed up on a matrimonial website. The incident unfolded between April 18 and June 1, 2025.
According to police reports, the elderly man had responded to a marriage advertisement published in a newspaper, hoping to find a life partner. Following the instructions mentioned in the advertisement, he completed a registration process with the platform.
Soon after, he received a phone call from a woman who claimed to have found him through the matrimonial portal. Over time, she earned his trust through regular conversations but kept her identity hidden.
As the conversations continued, she began requesting financial assistance. After some payments, the victim grew suspicious and asked to meet her face-to-face before transferring any more money. However, when she failed to do so, he realised that he had been scammed.
Senior Police Inspector of Bibwewadi Police Station, Ashwini Satpute, confirmed that the complainant, aged 85, was seeking companionship due to loneliness. “We have registered a case under the relevant sections of the BNS, and an investigation is underway,” she added.
Authorities have urged other citizens to be cautious when interacting with strangers on matrimonial platforms to avoid similar scams.
