Vashi: Vegetable Trader Loses Rs 42 Lakh in Dating App Scam
A 52-year-old vegetable trader from Vashi, Navi Mumbai, has lost Rs 42.23 lakh in an online dating scam. The trader met a woman named “Aditi Rajput” on the dating app Jaumo in May. After chatting often on WhatsApp and building trust, she convinced him to invest money in online trading, saying it could help pay for his daughter’s education.
She shared a website called “Oftinex Market Net” with him. At first, the website showed he was making profits. Feeling confident, the trader continued to invest more money. He transferred Rs 42.23 lakh between June 4 and June 26. Later, the website claimed he had earned Rs 1.25 crore, but when he tried to take out his money, he was told to pay another Rs 35 lakh as a “security deposit.” This made him realize it was likely a fraud, and he reported the matter to Vashi Police.
Police are investigating and following the digital clues to catch the accused. They have advised the public to not trust financial advice from strangers online, avoid clicking unverified links, and always check if online platforms are registered before investing. If asked for random fees or deposits, report it immediately to the authorities.
