COIMBATORE: Matrimonial fraud has emerged as a growing cybercrime concern in Coimbatore, with scammers increasingly targeting unmarried men, particularly those above 40, by posing as potential partners and gradually gaining their trust, police said.
According to police, more than 50 complaints linked to matrimonial scams have been reported across Coimbatore this year. The rural cybercrime unit has registered 25 complaints, while around 30 cases have been reported to the city’s cybercrime wing.
The scam typically begins on matrimonial platforms or social media, where fraudsters identify men looking for marriage. They use fake profiles or women acting as prospective brides to establish contact and build a relationship with the target.
The interaction may continue for several weeks or months. During this period, the victim is made to believe that the relationship is genuine and that marriage is likely. Once sufficient trust has been established, the fraudsters introduce financial discussions, often presenting investment opportunities as a way to build savings or secure their future together.
The victim is then persuaded to transfer money into a fraudulent investment scheme. By the time the deception comes to light, substantial amounts may have already been lost.
Coimbatore District Cybercrime Inspector K Kavitha said the prolonged nature of these scams makes them particularly damaging. Victims can suffer both financial losses and emotional distress after realising that the relationship itself was part of the deception.
Police also warned that information publicly available on matrimonial platforms can make it easier for fraudsters to identify potential targets. Details such as age, education, profession, income and property ownership can provide scammers with enough information to create convincing approaches and tailor their conversations.
Meanwhile, cybercrime cases have risen sharply in Coimbatore Rural. Police said 118 cybercrime cases were registered during the first nine months of the year, with 100 of them recorded in just the last three months. Authorities have arrested 25 people and recovered around Rs 2.10 crore so far.
Across Coimbatore, police have received approximately 4,360 cybercrime complaints this year, involving reported losses of nearly Rs 9 crore.
Fake online trading schemes accounted for the highest number of complaints, with 216 cases, followed by online job scams with 200 complaints. Police have also recorded 36 digital arrest complaints, 34 KYC-related scams, 39 cases involving malicious APK files and 25 fake customer care scams.
Inspector Kavitha said that while FIRs were generally registered in cases involving losses of more than Rs 5 lakh, authorities have recently started registering cases involving losses of around Rs 1 lakh as well.
Police have advised people using matrimonial websites to avoid sharing excessive personal or financial information with strangers and to be particularly cautious if a new online relationship is followed by requests to invest money or transfer funds.
