Mumbai: Out-of-work web designer targeted divorcees on matrimonial sites, swore undying love and conned them out of lakhs. The LT Marg police have arrested a Lucknow-based man accused of defrauding over 100 women through matrimonial websites.
The accused, who identified himself as Vineet Malhotra
The LT Marg police have arrested a Lucknow-based man accused of defrauding over 100 women through matrimonial websites. The scam came to light after a 34-year-old schoolteacher filed a complaint, alleging that the accused had cheated her of more than Rs 8 lakh.
According to the victim’s complaint, she met the accused, who identified himself as Vineet Malhotra, on a matrimonial website during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. They began speaking regularly with the intention of getting married, and their conversations continued for nearly four years. Throughout this time, the accused consistently avoided meeting her in person or appearing on video calls.
Tracing the accused was relatively straightforward as he used his own phone number. Representation pic/istock
“He would spin elaborate stories, claiming his parents had died from COVID-19 or citing other emergencies, to emotionally manipulate the victim and gradually extract money from her,” a police official said, explaining the accused’s modus operandi. The victim eventually lost over Rs 8 lakh.
After the woman approached the police and an investigation was launched, authorities identified another victim based in Mumbai. However, she declined to file a formal complaint. “She went through a similar experience, right down to the bank account details and contact number, which matched those of the accused. The information she provided ultimately led us to his location in Lucknow,” the official added.
The accused, identified as Shivam Shrivastava, a man in his thirties, is a website designer by profession. During the investigation, he told police that he had taken up several freelance web design projects but gradually lost work due to the growing dominance of AI-driven technologies. He later took a job as a food delivery agent, but claimed the income was not sustainable. It was then, he admitted, that he turned to fraudulent means to make money.
“His primary targets were divorced women, mostly in their mid-thirties. He would approach them under the guise of seeking marriage, but his real intention was to extract money,” said a police official involved in the investigation. “During the technical analysis, we found that he had blocked over 700 numbers on WhatsApp, many of which we suspect belong to women he defrauded. Based on his bank account activity, it appears that more than 100 women may have fallen victim to his scam,” the official added.
Further scrutiny of his bank statements revealed transactions amounting to several crores over the past five years. However, police clarified that Shrivastava was not a habitual offender with a criminal background. Tracing him was relatively straightforward, as he used his own phone number to contact the victims and had the money transferred directly into his personal bank account.
The accused operated under fake identities, often introducing himself as Varun or Vineet Malhotra—names that were not his own. “This case highlights the importance of verifying the identity of individuals met through matrimonial websites. People, especially women, should exercise caution and never share money or personal credentials with anyone, whether in person or online. In case of any suspicious activity or fraud, they should immediately report it to the nearest police station,” the official advised.
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