TL;DR: Siasat Daily reported on March 7, 2026 that a 42-year-old supervisor in Old Bowenpally, Hyderabad, who was seeking a bride after his wife died in 2024, lost ₹86 lakh. A woman on a matrimonial app, “Preeti Chopra”, promised marriage in return for investing in a fake forex and Bitcoin platform. When he tried to withdraw, she demanded “upgrade” fees.
What happened
Siasat Daily reports that a 42-year-old man, a supervisor at a private firm in Old Bowenpally, Hyderabad, registered on a matrimonial app in November 2025 after his wife died in 2024. A woman calling herself Preeti Chopra messaged him, saying he had liked her profile.
How the trap worked
- She said she worked with a major finance business dealing in forex, Bitcoin and other investments, and promised marriage in return for an investment.
- She sent screenshots of big investor profits and a link to a trading platform, and he gave her his PAN, Aadhaar and bank account details.
- He first invested ₹25,000 and was shown a profit of ₹21,750.
- He then invested ₹86 lakh over time.
- When he tried to withdraw, the fraudsters demanded more money for “upgrades”. Even after he paid, he got no profits.
Status of the case
He filed a complaint with the cybercrime police. A case is registered and under investigation; the report mentions no arrests. The alias used has not been linked to a named suspect.
Why a small early profit matters
The first small “profit” is bait. Seeing ₹21,750 on screen makes the next, much bigger deposit feel safe. The platform is fake, so the numbers on screen are not real. See how this plays out in our guide to romance investment scams in India, and the investment scam playbook.
Red flags
- A match who links marriage to an investment.
- Sharing PAN, Aadhaar or bank details with someone you have not met.
- A trading platform sent as a link, not a regulated broker.
- New fees, “upgrades” or taxes when you try to withdraw.
Check any platform on SEBI before investing: how to report a fake trading app. For help after a loss, see investment app scam recovery and matrimonial scam recovery steps. Run our free digital footprint check to learn what a scammer can find about you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the man lose?
₹86 lakh in total, invested over time after an initial ₹25,000.
Who was the scammer?
A woman using the name Preeti Chopra on a matrimonial app. No suspect has been named in the report.
Why did he share Aadhaar and PAN?
Scammers often ask for ID documents for a so-called account setup. Sharing them also raises the risk of identity misuse.
What should I do if a match asks me to invest?
Stop. A real partner does not make marriage conditional on an investment. Report to 1930 and your bank.
Sources
- Siasat Daily: Man duped of Rs 86 lakh in matrimonial scam in Hyderabad (Mar 7, 2026)
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in)