By Shivya Kanojia

Copyright timesnownews

Bengaluru: What started as a search for a life partner turned into a costly trap for a 31-year-old man from Bengaluru’s Cantonment area. He lost ₹24 lakh after being lured into a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme by a woman who had posed as a prospective bride on a matrimonial website. Police said the man, identified as Ajay (name changed), had joined the matrimonial platform a few months ago. In July, he received a proposal from a profile named Tharani Srinivasan, who introduced herself as a business professional based in London with roots in Tamil Nadu. She claimed her family lived in Chennai and expressed an interest in marriage, as per a report by TOI. The two began talking regularly through WhatsApp calls and messages, with Tharani using a UK number and the display name Sree Devi Bala. Within days, she convinced Ajay of her genuine intentions and promised to travel to India soon to finalise their relationship. Once trust was built, she suggested investing in cryptocurrency as a way to secure their financial future. Ajay was guided to open accounts on suspicious platforms named m.bitcoin-on.com and m.bitcoin-av.com. Following her advice, he made 12 transactions between July and September, transferring a total of ₹24 lakh. Initially, he was shown profits on the platform, but every time he tried to withdraw money, additional charges and taxes were demanded. When he refused to pay more, the woman cut off all contact. Realising the fraud, Ajay approached the East CEN Crime Police Station and lodged a complaint with evidence of chats and transactions. A case has been filed under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating). Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Bengaluru and around the world.