I was cheated of ₹1.5 lakh by a Aligarh matrimonial site match who turned out to be a fraud. What can I do?

Detailed Legal Analysis

If you have been cheated of ₹1.5 lakh by a matrimonial site match in Aligarh, you can take several steps to seek justice and recover your money.

Here are the actions you can pursue:

• File a Police Complaint: You should file a First Information Report (FIR) with the local police station in Aligarh. Provide all necessary details, including:
• Details of the transaction (date, amount, method of payment).
• All communications with the fraudster (messages, emails).
• Any identifying information about the fraudster (name, phone number, email).
• Cyber Crime Complaint: Since this is a cybercrime, you can also file a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell of the local police. You can use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) to lodge your complaint online.
• Gather Evidence: Collect and preserve all evidence related to the fraud. This includes:
• Transaction receipts and bank statements.
• Chat logs and screenshots from the matrimonial site.
• Any other relevant documents that support your case.
• Legal Notice: Consider sending a legal notice to the matrimonial site, asking them to take responsibility for the fraud, especially if they failed to verify the profile. The relevant law here is the Indian Contract Act, 1872, which governs contracts and can be invoked if there was misrepresentation.
• File a Civil Suit: You can file a civil suit against the fraudster and possibly against the matrimonial site for negligence or failure to provide adequate security measures under Section 75 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deals with the liability of intermediaries.
• Consumer Forum: You can also approach the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, if you believe that you have been denied service or if the matrimonial site failed to deliver what was promised.

It is advisable to consult with a lawyer who specializes in cyber law to help you navigate the legal process effectively and to represent you in court if necessary.