Kochi doctor defrauded of Rs 37 lakh in NRI matrimonial fraud; three arrested

Kochi: The Kochi Cyber Crime Police have busted a cyber fraud racket, arresting three individuals for allegedly cheating a young doctor of Rs 37 lakh by posing as an NRI woman on a matrimonial website and persuading him to invest money in a trading app, officials said on Monday.

The arrested persons have been identified as Sooraj Krishnan (22) of Aroor, Alappuzha, who allegedly impersonated the woman and sent messages from Cambodia, and Adil K P (22) and Mohammed Faisal (25), both natives of Valanchery in Malappuram district, who allegedly withdrew the money through bank accounts, news agency PTI reported.

The arrest was made on Sunday, and the accused were remanded to judicial custody after being produced before the court, police said.

According to police, the doctor invested Rs 37 lakh in multiple instalments, but the fraud came to light when the promised returns were not received.

The investigation further revealed that the arrested persons were linked to a Cambodia-based cybercrime group.

They said Cambodia has emerged as a base for various online frauds, including trading-related scams and loan app frauds, allegedly operated by groups under the control of Chinese nationals, with Indians, including Keralites, as members.

Police said digital evidence seized from the accused is being analysed to trace the wider network behind the fraud.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a doctor's appointment booked through a fake app turned costly for a 57-year-old man, who allegedly lost around Rs 4.5 lakh after attempting to consult a doctor through a mobile number he found online.

Also Read:Hyderabad: Man installs fake app for doctor appointment, loses Rs 4.5 lakh