Mandsaur, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Madhya Pradesh Police have busted an interstate cybercrime racket that allegedly defrauded people of more than Rs 11 crore through matrimonial websites in over 100 cases, arresting six suspects from Rajasthan and Bihar.
The racket is also suspected to have international links, with callers based abroad allegedly assisting gang members in targeting victims by posing as prospective marriage partners, Mandsaur Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Meena said on Monday.
The investigation began after a woman from Shamgarh lodged a complaint alleging that she had been contacted through a matrimonial website by a man claiming to be a non-resident Indian (NRI).
“He contacted her through a matrimonial alliance and claimed to be an NRI. He allegedly committed cyber fraud and took around Rs 7.5 lakh from the woman,” Meena told IANS.
According to police, the accused allegedly used fake photographs and introduced other gang members to the woman through WhatsApp, where they posed as relatives of the prospective groom.
After gaining her confidence, the suspects allegedly claimed that expensive gifts sent from abroad had been detained by Customs and demanded money for taxes and processing charges. Some gang members allegedly impersonated Customs officials and threatened the woman, who subsequently transferred around Rs 7.5 lakh into multiple bank accounts.
A case was registered at Shamgarh police station, following which a special police team was formed to investigate the fraud.
Police analysed more than 150 mule bank accounts and mobile SIM cards during the investigation to trace the suspects. Five people were arrested during raids in Jaipur, while the alleged mastermind was apprehended from Arwal district in Bihar, Meena said.
“One group was involved in arranging mule bank accounts and SIM cards from places including Agra, Firozabad, Delhi, Bihar and Bhopal, while another group withdrew the money and deposited it through cash deposit machines,” the SP said.
The gang allegedly destroyed mobile phones, SIM cards, passbooks and ATM cards after bank accounts were frozen to conceal evidence. Police said they also found slips bearing account numbers pasted on the backs of mobile phones.
During the operation, police recovered 22 Android mobile phones, 30 mule SIM cards and five ATM cards from the accused.
Police have frozen more than Rs 8 lakh in various bank accounts and said the amount would be returned to the victim through the prescribed legal process.
“The investigation is continuing to establish the international connections of the gang and identify other persons involved in the racket,” Meena said.
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