In a startling incident, a man from Pune has reportedly lost ₹11 lakh after being duped by an online advertisement. The ad, which sought a man who could ‘make me pregnant,’ unfortunately caught the attention of the victim. Before he could realize he was being scammed, he had already transferred ₹11 lakh to the fraudsters.
According to reports, the man was progressively asked to pay several charges, including initial fees, membership fees, and privacy fees. He was misled into believing that the ‘work’ would not be completed without these payments, falling into a well-laid trap.
After a series of online transactions, communication from the perpetrators ceased, leading the man to the grim realization that he had been defrauded.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident to identify those responsible for the scam. In light of this, the police have issued a strong warning to the public, urging them to be cautious of suspicious online advertisements and offers. They advise citizens to immediately report any instances where individuals demand substantial amounts of money online for personal matters.
This case bears a resemblance to a similar cyber fraud that surfaced in Bihar earlier this year. In that scam, fraudsters targeted men with promises of substantial financial rewards for impregnating childless women. Investigations in Bihar led to arrests, suggesting a larger network involved in extorting money from unsuspecting individuals.
Such scams often involve fake websites, like the ‘All India Pregnant Job Service’ used in the Bihar case, where victims were offered large sums of money, only to be asked for identification details and then pressured into paying hefty fees for fictitious bookings and registrations.