Bengaluru woman loses Rs 1.3 lakh to fake Belgian Doctor in gift scam

Written By :  Rumela De Sarkar
Published On 2026-02-21 05:30 GMT   |   Update On 2026-02-21 05:30 GMT

Cyber Fraud

Bengaluru: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a man posing as a Belgian-based doctor allegedly duped a 34-year-old divorcee from Bengaluru of over Rs 1.3 lakh, exploiting her trust and emotions through a Valentine’s Day gift scam. 

According to the news reports, the woman, a resident of Veeranapalya, had registered on a matrimonial portal for divorcees when she was contacted by a man claiming to be a doctor settled in Belgium. The accused quickly struck up a friendly relationship and began communicating with her regularly on WhatsApp, building trust through affectionate messages and promises of marriage.

Also Read:Man posing as UK Doctor on matrimonial app cheats woman of Rs 16 lakh

As Valentine’s Day approached, the man told her that he had sent her expensive gifts and euros as a token of his love. Shortly afterwards, she received a call from a person posing as a customs official, claiming that a parcel addressed to her had arrived in India but was being withheld due to pending clearance charges.

The fraudsters then began demanding money under various pretexts, including customs duty, tax clearance, and courier handling fees. Trusting man’s assurances that the parcel was genuine, the woman reportedly transferred over Rs 1.3 lakh through multiple transactions.

Her suspicions were raised only when the callers continued to demand additional payments even after she had complied several times. When she questioned the man, he insisted that she pay more to secure the release of the parcel. Realising she had been cheated, she approached the police and lodged a complaint.

Also Read:Matrimony App Fraud: Fake NRI doctor dupes techie of Rs 6.43 lakh

Speaking to TOI, a senior police officer said such frauds are usually reported in the run-up to Valentine's Day or in the week following it. Similar cases have been reported in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kochi, where victims were lured via matrimonial or dating platforms by profiles claiming to be NRI professionals. Fraudsters use the promise of love, marriage, and expensive gifts as bait.
Tags:    

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Similar News