In a shocking case of digital deception, a 32-year-old research scientist specializing in artificial intelligence has been defrauded of a staggering ₹85.05 lakh in an elaborate cryptocurrency investment scam that originated on a matrimony website. The Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police station registered the case on Thursday based on the victim's complaint.
The Deceptive Connection on ReddyMatrimony
The victim, a resident of Nallakunta who recently earned a PhD in AI, began interacting with a user on ReddyMatrimony.com on June 17, 2025. The fraudster, posing as a woman named Mounica Reddy, claimed to be a tax professional based in Scotland. She narrated a story of successful cryptocurrency trading conducted with her uncle, thereby building a facade of trust and financial acumen.
Under this guise, she introduced the scientist to a platform named Global TRX, promising substantial returns of 10 to 20 percent on investments. Lured by these assurances, the highly educated victim embarked on a costly financial journey.
The Three-Month Financial Drain
Over the subsequent three months, the victim transferred his life's savings in a series of 14 transactions. The modus operandi evolved during the process. Initially, he purchased the stablecoin Tether (USDT) on the legitimate exchange Binance. Later, acting on instructions received via WhatsApp, he began sending money directly to seven different merchant accounts provided by the scammer.
Police investigation into the money trail has revealed that ₹3 lakh was transferred to a bank account held in the name of Shankar Sahu. Another ₹13 lakh was routed to an entity called RR Physiotherapy. The remaining significant portion of the funds was converted into cryptocurrency and sent to digital wallets located in the United Kingdom and Malaysia, complicating the recovery process.
The Unraveling and Police Action
The scam came to light on October 9, 2025, when the victim attempted to withdraw funds from the 'Global TRX' application. His request failed, prompting suspicion. A critical red flag was that this application was not available on official app stores like Google Play or the App Store. "I downloaded the app from the link shared by Mounica," the victim stated in his complaint.
Acting swiftly, the Cybercrime police have registered a comprehensive case. The charges include sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act and multiple sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These BNS sections pertain to organised crime, cheating, cheating by personation, forgery for the purpose of cheating, forgery of valuable security, and using a forged document as genuine.
The investigation is currently active, with officials analyzing and tracking the suspect's WhatsApp numbers and the bank accounts used in the fraud. This case highlights a disturbing trend where even highly qualified professionals in tech fields can fall prey to sophisticated social engineering tactics executed through seemingly legitimate social platforms.
