New Delhi (Agency): Officials reported on Monday that a local software engineer, Kuldeep Patel, lost over Rs 1 crore due to a cryptocurrency scam he encountered on a matrimonial website. The scam is currently under police investigation.
Patel met a person named Aditi on a matrimonial site in June. Aditi claimed to be involved in the import and export business in the UK and convinced Patel to invest in a cryptocurrency called ‘banocoin,’ promising lucrative returns. Trusting her, Patel connected with a ‘customer care representative of Banocoin,’ registered on their website, and began pouring money into this investment.
Initially, the venture seemed promising. After investing his first Rs one lakh, Patel saw a profit of 78 USDT (US Dollar Tether) in his crypto account. This early success encouraged him to invest more. Between July 20 and August 31, Patel invested a total of Rs 1.34 crore across 18 transactions. But things took a turn for the worse on September 3 when Patel tried to withdraw Rs 2.59 lakh and found that his account had been frozen.
Desperate to resolve the situation, Patel contacted the same customer care representative who had initially advised him on the investment. He was told that he needed to invest an additional Rs 35 lakh to unfreeze his account. Unable to reach Aditi for clarification, Patel finally realized he had been scammed.
This incident serves as a stark warning about the dangers of cryptocurrency investments, especially when made under dubious circumstances. It also highlights the importance of being cautious while interacting with unknown individuals on platforms like matrimonial websites, where scammers often prey on trusting individuals.
While Patel’s case is an extreme example, it underscores the need for greater public awareness and stricter regulations to protect individuals from falling victim to such scams. As the investigation continues, the incident raises questions about the security measures in place on both matrimonial and financial platforms.
