A seemingly genuine matrimonial service operating from Agra has been accused of running a pan-India fraud in which men seeking marriage were allegedly lured with fake profiles, staged conversations and promises of suitable matches.
Delhi Police recently busted the alleged racket after a man reported losing Rs 15,000 through the website Shaadi Partner. Investigators said the operation followed a simple strategy described by police as “cheat small, cheat many” — keeping individual losses relatively low so victims would be less likely to complain.
Fake profiles created the illusion of genuine matches
According to police, callers first identified men looking for matrimonial alliances and assessed their financial background. They then shared photographs sourced from the internet and created dummy profiles on the matrimonial website.
Once a man showed interest, a woman working at the Agra call centre allegedly posed as the prospective bride and spoke to him over the phone. The conversations could continue for days, making the victim believe that a genuine relationship was developing.
The alleged deception would then continue with the match suddenly falling through. Police said excuses included family opposition, compatibility issues or the woman supposedly getting engaged elsewhere.
Fees kept victims paying
When victims asked for another match, more profiles were allegedly offered. Some were even given contact numbers of people posing as family members.
The victims were subsequently asked to pay different charges, including registration, profile access, activation and contact-unlocking fees. Packages reportedly ranged from Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000, with tele-callers allegedly instructed not to collect more than Rs 15,000 from one person.
Police uncover Agra call centre
The investigation reportedly linked the bank account receiving one victim’s money to six complaints from different parts of India.
Delhi Police raided the alleged call centre in Agra on September 4 and arrested its operational manager along with eight women tele-callers. Police later arrested a 29-year-old practising lawyer whom they identified as the alleged mastermind.
Investigators are now examining mobile phones, computers, WhatsApp conversations and financial records to determine the extent of the alleged network and identify other possible victims