Jamnagar Businessman Defrauded of Rs 56.73 Lakh in Sophisticated Matrimonial Website Cyber Trap
A search for companionship on a matrimonial portal has resulted in a devastating financial loss for a 52-year-old wholesale medical agency owner from Jamnagar, Gujarat. According to a First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Jamnagar cybercrime police station, the victim was allegedly cheated of a staggering Rs 56.73 lakh by an organized gang that exploited his personal circumstances with a fabricated international pharmaceutical supply opportunity.
Loneliness and a Promise of Partnership
The victim, a resident of Ranjitsagar Road in Jamnagar, had created a profile on a popular matrimonial website approximately one year after the passing of his wife. Living alone—with his son employed in Bengaluru and his daughter residing in a hostel for her studies—he was actively seeking to remarry and rebuild his personal life.
On August 12, 2025, his hopes took an unexpected turn when he received a WhatsApp message from a Canadian phone number. The sender, a woman identifying herself as "Lakshmi", claimed to be an employee of a pharmaceutical research firm based in Montreal, Canada. She informed him that her company had an urgent requirement for a specific raw material used in medicinal production called "Tamole Ocimum (ZH2)".
The Elaborate Setup of a Fake Business Deal
Promising substantial commissions, Lakshmi persuaded the Jamnagar businessman to act as an Indian supplier for this chemical. She directed him to source the material from a Rajasthan-based company named Sharma Enterprises and instructed him to coordinate with a contact person identified as Rutuja Sharma. After negotiations settled the price at Rs 61,000 per litre, the victim was asked to purchase an initial trial sample.
To establish credibility and gain the victim's trust, the fraudsters orchestrated what appeared to be a completely legitimate business transaction. The victim transferred Rs 61,000 via UPI for the sample. Subsequently, a man who introduced himself as "purchase officer Ojo Michael" traveled to Ahmedabad, met the victim at a hotel, and physically collected the sample. Crucially, Michael paid the victim $1,300 in US currency, which the trader later exchanged for Indian rupees. This successful, small-scale transaction solidified the victim's belief in the deal's authenticity and profitability.
The Massive Financial Loss and Eventual Police Complaint
Encouraged by this apparent success, the victim agreed to proceed with supplying larger quantities of the material. Between October 30 and November 21, 2025, he transferred a total of Rs 56.73 lakh in multiple advance instalments to various bank accounts provided by the accused individuals.
The scheme unraveled immediately after the final payment. The accused persons ceased all communication, stopped responding to calls and messages, and deactivated their phone numbers, leaving the victim to confront the harsh reality that he had been systematically defrauded.
Police officials revealed that the victim remained silent about the incident for several months, primarily due to fears of social stigma and potential damage to the reputation of his medical agency. It was only after persistent encouragement from his brother and a close friend that he gathered the courage to approach the Jamnagar cybercrime police. A formal complaint was subsequently lodged, initiating an investigation into this sophisticated online financial crime.
This case highlights the evolving tactics of cyber criminals who exploit emotional vulnerabilities and professional aspirations to execute large-scale frauds, underscoring the critical need for heightened public awareness and vigilance in digital interactions.
