Bihar Police bust cyber fraud gang luring men with fake Rs 10 lakh pregnancy job offers

Cops have arrested two men. The victims didn’t come forward because of stigma. Pic/iStock

The Bihar Police have busted a cyber fraud gang that allegedly duped men by luring them with fake offers of up to Rs 10 lakh for impregnating childless women. The scam was uncovered by the Nawada Cyber Police.

According to the police, the accused used platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to circulate advertisements under names such as "All India Pregnant Job", "Playboy Service", and fake loan schemes like "SBI cheap loans" to attract victims.

Police said the gang promised men up to Rs 10 lakh for the "job" of impregnating childless women and claimed that even if they failed, they would still receive half the amount. Victims were shown photographs of female models and were enticed with promises of free sex and financial rewards.

However, before any meeting could take place, the victims were asked to pay "initial charges" of up to Rs 799 in the name of registration fees, hotel bookings, and other expenses. The demands for money continued until the victims realised they had been cheated.

Superintendent of Police Abhinav Dhiman said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested one accused, identified as Ranjan Kumar, a resident of Nawada. A minor has also been taken into custody in connection with the case. Four mobile phones used in the fraud have been recovered. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

Officials said many victims did not report the fraud immediately due to fear of social stigma. Several such cyber fraud cases using a similar modus operandi have been reported earlier in Nawada district, in which victims were blackmailed and extorted. "The gang has been active for a year and we believe they have conned hundreds of people, but no one has so far come forward to complain, possibly because of shame," an official told BBC.

Deputy Superintendent of Police and Nawada Cyber Police Station in-charge Nishu Mallik has appealed to the public not to fall for such unusual and tempting offers circulating on social media and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. "Legitimate employers never ask for registration or processing fees," an official said.

Rs 799
Registration fees asked from victims for the job

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever