Trichy: A 33-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) from Trichy has allegedly lost Rs 38.5 lakh after being duped into investing in a fraudulent online trading platform by a woman he encountered through a matrimony application.
According to the Trichy city cybercrime police, the victim, identified as Ram Prakash of Thiruvanaikoil, has been employed in Saudi Arabia. In November 2025, his 68-year-old father received a matrimonial proposal via a mobile application from a man named Subash, who introduced his daughter, Parkavi, as a prospective bride for Ram Prakash.
After exchanging contact details, Ram Prakash began communicating with Parkavi through WhatsApp calls. She allegedly claimed to be working as a senior manager with a logistics and supply chain company in Germany. Subsequently, she persuaded him to invest in an e-commerce trading platform, promising high returns on his investments.
Believing her claims, Ram Prakash transferred Rs 38.5 lakh in multiple installments to various bank accounts between November 2025 and April 2026, following her instructions. However, when neither the promised returns nor details of the investment were forthcoming, he realized that he had been cheated.
Through his father, he lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Based on the complaint, the Trichy city cybercrime police registered a case and launched an investigation.
Modus Operandi
The scam followed a typical pattern where fraudsters use matrimonial platforms to gain trust. The accused, Parkavi, allegedly built a rapport with the victim over several months before introducing the investment scheme.
Preventive Measures
Police advise citizens to verify the credentials of individuals met online and avoid transferring money to unknown accounts promising high returns. They urge people to report such incidents immediately on the cybercrime portal.
