Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 17: A youth from Mulky lost Rs 11,39,535, having been duped by the deceptive tactics employed by people, who trapped him thorugh a Kannada matrimonial website.

The youth had posted his profile in the matrimonial website. On January 20 this year, Stella Moris, who claimed to be a British citizen, showed interest in marrying him, duly claiming that she found him to be an ideal life partner. She sent him WhatsApp message, inviting him to England, duly promising to find an employment for him in that country. She provided him with cellphone number of a person whose name was given as Michael Antony. She also asked the youth call Antony in this regard.

The youth got in touch with Antony, and was told to send a visa form duly completed along with payment of Rs 26,560. The man did as he was told, and transferred the money by way of NEFT through Canara Bank Kinnigoli branch. Soon enough, he received emails from Antony as well as another person named James Bevan, asking him to send application for anti-terrorism certificate and Rs 83,000. This amount was also transferred by way of NEFT. Thereafter, he regularly received demands from these three persons seeking money transfer and the youth who reposed trust on them, totally remitted a sum of Rs 11,39,535 to them in course of time.

It dawned on him finally that he had been taken for a ride by a coterie of cheaters. He has since filed a complaint in the cyber crime police station in the city.