Image used for representational purposes. | Photo credit: Getty Images
A 45-year-old general practitioner reportedly lost ₹22.25 million in an alleged marriage app scam after he was duped by a fraudster who posed as a German ophthalmologist on the app.
According to the complaint filed on Friday with the East Division Cyber Crime Police, the victim downloaded the app on December 20, 2025 and received a response from a profile that identified itself as Dr. Ganesh Barman, who claimed to be an ophthalmologist working in Berlin, Germany. The defendant reportedly said he was divorced, lived with his seven-year-old daughter, who was studying at a boarding school, and planned to move to India by February 2026 to set up a hospital in Delhi.
Communication initially started through the app and later moved to WhatsApp calls and messages from an international number. The accused allegedly told the victim that he had sent agents to take care of the foundations for a hospital project he had initiated in India.
The complainant alleged that the accused later claimed that his international bank account had stopped working and asked her for help in transferring the funds to his “agents” in India. Between January 9 and January 24, 2026, she transferred money from her Axis Bank account to multiple bank accounts provided by the accused. She also sought financial help from her brother-in-law who transferred the funds through RTGS/NEFT from his Kotak Mahindra bank account.
The total amount transferred through UPI and bank transactions to various accounts was said to be ₹22,25,070.
After realizing that she was duped, the victim contacted the 1930 Cyber Crime Helpline and ended all communication with the accused. A complaint has been registered and further investigation is underway to trace the fraudsters and the respective beneficiary accounts.
Published – 23 Feb 2026 20:49 IST
