Bengaluru Matrimony Scam: Software Engineer Duped of ₹1.52 Crore

A significant matrimonial scam has emerged in Bengaluru, highlighting the distressing case of a 29-year-old software engineer who lost over ₹1.52 crore to a man she encountered on a matrimony website. The alleged perpetrator, posing as a rich businessman, now faces serious accusations along with his family.

The victim, Navya Shree from Whitefield, connected with Vijay Raj Gowda, also referred to as Vijeth B, in March 2024 through the Okkaliga matrimony platform. Presenting himself as the owner of VRG Enterprises, Vijay claimed extensive business interests, asserting that his assets amounted to ₹715 crore.

To gain Navya’s confidence, Vijay reportedly shared documentation from a 2019 Enforcement Directorate case and painted a picture of himself as a wealthy businessman embroiled in legal struggles. He assured her that his family supported their impending marriage.

The deception began in early April, when Vijay requested ₹15,000 via a digital payment app, citing a temporary banking issue. He then persuaded her to invest in his purported business and encouraged her to secure loans from friends, promising significant returns.

Vijay later introduced his family at Kengeri Metro Station, where his father, Krishnappa B Gowda, claimed to be a retired Tehsildar and promised Navya’s family that all investments were safe. Cheques in the name of VRG Enterprises were issued to bolster their faith.

Per the police report, Vijay managed to involve Navya’s friends as well, with one investing ₹66 lakh and another putting in ₹23 lakh over multiple transactions. When they sought repayments, Vijay contended that his accounts were frozen due to a court case, providing copies of court orders as proof.

He even approached Navya’s parents directly with the same documents, convincing them of his narrative. Consequently, her father reportedly transferred ₹10.5 lakh between December 2024 and February 2025, while her mother invested ₹18 lakh, utilizing her retirement savings. Additionally, Vijay took ₹10 lakh against Navya’s jewelry and borrowed another ₹5 lakh from her siblings.

The shocking truth was uncovered when Navya visited Vijay’s home to demand her money back, only to find out he was already married with a child. The woman he had introduced as his sister was actually his wife, with whom he had been married for three years. Navya alleges that the entire family was complicit in the scam.

In her report, Navya claims that upon confronting Vijay and his family, she and her friends were threatened with death. Allegedly, Vijay amassed ₹1,75,66,890 through various bank accounts, returning only ₹22,51,800, leaving an outstanding amount of ₹1,53,15,090.

Police have initiated a case for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and intimidation against Vijay, his father, and wife. An ongoing investigation aims to trace the financial trail and uncover the full scope of the fraud.

This troubling incident raises alarm about online matrimonial sites and the rising trend of financial fraud masquerading as marriage proposals, particularly in bustling tech cities like Bengaluru.