Nagpur: A senior executive from a private firm and a resident of Ramdaspeth area, fell prey to a Bitcoin investment scam after being approached on a matrimonial platform. The cyber fraud has left him Rs 30.91 lakh poorer and raised serious concerns over online financial scams.

According to police, Kamlesh, an assistant manager at a private company, had registered on the matrimonial website “Sangam.com” to find a life partner. On March 26, 2024, a woman identifying herself as Tina Rawat from Gurugram contacted him, expressing her interest in marriage. The two began chatting via WhatsApp, where Tina introduced herself as a seasoned Bitcoin trader.

The Scam Unfolds:

Tina convinced Kamlesh that Bitcoin investments could yield high returns and directed him to register on a fraudulent website, BuyBitcoin.org. Trusting her advice, Kamlesh initially invested Rs 3 lakh and received a Rs 50,000 profit, which he could withdraw successfully. Encouraged, he invested further, eventually transferring Rs 30.91 lakh to accounts linked to the scam by October.

When Kamlesh tried to withdraw his funds, he was asked to pay a 2% tax and open a Bank of America account with an additional $5,998 deposit. This raised his suspicions, and when Tina became unresponsive, Kamlesh realized he had been duped.

Police Investigation Underway:

Kamlesh lodged a complaint with the Cyber police station, prompting an investigation. Police have registered a case against unidentified suspects and are tracking the money trail.