Fake profiles on dating and matrimonial apps may empty your bank accounts. Miscreants by creating fake profiles start interaction and later, on some pretext, commit fraud by extracting money from victims. When the victims get to know that they are duped, it’s too late.In most of the cases, fraudsters create fake profiles and pose as NRIs to dupe women on the pretext of solemnising marriage. The police have already received around 12 such complaints and investigation is being conducted to unearth the racket.The Ludhiana police have issued an advisory to make the people aware about the prevailing fraud. The police have shared a video on its social media handles, which shows a woman who developed friendship with a man who poses himself as an NRI. The suspect while claiming to be on the way to India from abroad told the woman over phone that he had lost his bag containing passport, important documents and foreign currency at an airport in India. He asks the woman to send him 2,000 dollars else he will not be released. The woman who was aware about the fraud refused to send any money and exposes the fraudster. The latter immediately hangs up the phone.Sources said about 12 complaints pertaining to such frauds were under investigation in the district and in most cases, miscreants posing as NRIs duped the women.In one of the cases, a woman met a man on a matrimonial app and the person introduced him as NRI from the USA. They remained in contact over phone for over a month. One day the man told the woman that he has sent expensive gifts for her through courier and it will reach in a few days. “One day I recieved a call from the person who said the expensive gifts are caught by the customs authorities at an airport and Rs 2.5 lakh needs to be paid to release the gifts, the value of which are over Rs 10 lakh. As I was convinced by the suspect that he was an NRI, I sent the money in the account number shared by the man. Later, I realised that I was cheated and the suspect was a fraudster who had created a fake profile on a matrimonial site,” the woman told the police.In another case, a man came in contact with another woman on a dating app took over Rs 1.5 lakh on the pretext of some immediate treatment of his family member. The woman got to know about the fraud when she found that the man was already married and had children. He developed the friendship to commit a fraud.Cyber officials said before starting interaction with anybody through dating or matrimonial apps, always verify the identity of the person and do not send money if someone asks for.A police post on social media is spreading awareness about fake matrimonial profile scam.“Looking for a life partner should not cost you your life savings. Cyber criminals create fake profiles on matrimonial websites, gain your trust through emotional conversations and eventually ask for money by making false claims such as medical emergencies, travel expenses, customs clearance or investment opportunities. Once the money is transferred, they disappear or block all communication. One should always verify the person’s identity before trusting them. Never send money to someone you’ve met only online. Be cautious of requests for urgent financial help or investment offers. Report suspicious profiles to the platform and the cyber authorities immediately. If you become a victim, call 1930 or report the incident at the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal,” it says.