Online matrimonial websites have become a popular way for people to search for marriage partners. Many users create profiles claiming to be NRIs working abroad. While some of these profiles are genuine, cybercrime officials warn that fraudsters are increasingly using these platforms to target people who are seriously looking for marriage.
In many recent scams, criminals create attractive fake profiles and pretend to be successful professionals living overseas. They often claim to be software engineers, finance experts, or IT specialists working in countries such as the UK, USA, or Canada. Through friendly conversations and regular chats, they slowly gain the victim’s trust. After some time, they introduce what they call a profitable investment opportunity, usually related to cryptocurrency trading.
One recent case in Hyderabad shows how such scams work. A man from the city met a woman on the matrimonial website Shaadi.com, according to news reports. She claimed to be a UK based Azure DevOps engineer. After building a friendly connection with him through frequent conversations, she suggested he try investing in cryptocurrency. She recommended a trading platform called Bakktcoin, claiming that her uncle shared special trading signals that could guarantee profits.
To convince him, the victim was first asked to invest a small amount. The platform showed a fake profit of Rs. 2,663, which made it look legitimate. Believing the system was real, the man began investing larger sums through UPI payments, bank transfers, and cryptocurrency transactions using Tether on the Binance platform. Between October 26 and November 12, 2025, he transferred a total of Rs. 11,20,500.
When he later tried to withdraw his money, the platform blocked his request and demanded more deposits. By then, he realized he had been cheated. After accounting for the small amount, he received earlier, his total loss came to Rs. 11,17,834.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police later arrested a suspect named Pedapudi Prasanna Kumar, a 32-year-old man from Visakhapatnam. He was caught at Chennai International Airport after returning from Cambodia. Investigators say he used hundreds of illegally obtained SIM cards to create fake WhatsApp accounts and matrimonial profiles to trap victims and lure them into cryptocurrency investments.
Cybercrime experts say people should be extremely cautious if someone they meet on a matrimonial platform starts talking about investments or financial opportunities. Verifying a person’s identity through video calls, avoiding sending money to online contacts, and reporting suspicious behavior immediately can help prevent such fraud. While matrimonial platforms can help genuine relationships begin, staying alert is essential to avoid becoming a victim of online scams.
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