Mumbai woman duped of Rs 18 lakh from man she met on matrimonial site

Mumbai: A 42-year-old divorced graphic designer from Mulund who was looking for life partner, ended up losing Rs 18 lakh after she met a man on a matrimonial website who claimed that he was son of an IPS officer and worked for a NGO to support divorced and widowed women. He gained the victim's trust and told that she was eligible for a house under a scheme and asked her to deposit registration fees.The complainant had made a profile of herself on the site by posting her pictures around four years ago. On Sept 29 last year, she received a marriage request, which she accepted on Oct 18, 2025. The next day, she was contacted by the man, who introduced himself as Viraj Bhosale, aged 45, a resident of Talegaon Dabhade in Pune. The complainant stated the accused told her she was eligible for a house in Mumbai under govt welfare schemes. He allegedly insisted the scheme required her to first pay an advance and take personal loans in her name. Between Oct 19 and Oct 26, she transferred Rs 5.6 lakh from her savings and an additional Rs 17.7 lakh through loans.