The Coimbatore matrimonial scam has emerged as a major cyber fraud targeting unmarried men, police said. More than 50 complaints have been reported across Coimbatore this year.

Police said scammers mainly target unmarried men above 40 years of age. They reportedly use women to approach victims through matrimonial platforms. The scammers then establish contact by promising a possible marriage.

The relationship may continue virtually for several months. During this period, victims develop trust and hope for marriage. Scammers then introduce investment opportunities and encourage victims to put money into them.

According to police, victims can suffer financial losses after making such investments. They may also experience emotional distress following the collapse of the relationship. Police have advised unmarried men to remain cautious about such approaches.

Coimbatore Rural recorded 25 matrimonial scam complaints this year. Around 30 complaints were also registered with the city cybercrime wing. Police said personal information on matrimonial platforms can help scammers identify potential victims.

Such information can include age, education, salary and property details. Some platforms make parts of this information freely available to users.

Cybercrime has also increased across the district. Coimbatore Rural registered 118 cybercrime cases during the past nine months. Around 100 of these cases were registered during the last three months.

Police have arrested 25 people and recovered around Rs 2.10 crore so far. Across Coimbatore, authorities received 4,360 cybercrime complaints this year. The reported financial loss from these complaints was around Rs 9 crore.

Fake online trading scams accounted for 216 complaints. Online job scams followed with 200 complaints during the same period. Police also reported digital arrest, KYC, APK file and fake customer-care scams.

The Coimbatore matrimonial scam highlights the risks of sharing personal information online. Police have urged people to verify identities before trusting online relationships or financial proposals.