Delhi Police have busted an alleged pan-India matrimonial cyber fraud racket operating from Agra, arresting a 29-year-old practising advocate along with nine others.
Police said the operation used fake matrimonial profiles and staged conversations with women posing as prospective brides to extract repeated payments from men seeking marriage.
How Did the Matrimonial Fraud Allegedly Work?
Police said Amit Kumar allegedly operated a fake matchmaking service called “Shaadi Partner” and deliberately kept individual fraud amounts at ₹15,000 or less, a strategy investigators said was intended to discourage victims from filing complaints.
Victims were allegedly charged at different stages for registration, profile activation, security deposits and membership packages. The payments ranged from ₹2,500 to ₹15,000.
Police said dummy profiles of clients were created on the website and screenshots were sent to victims. If a man expressed interest in a particular woman, another female employee allegedly posed as the prospective bride during conference calls.
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How Were Men Lured Into Paying?
The alleged operation specifically targeted men looking for brides. Police said contact numbers linked to matrimonial seekers were collected from the website as well as matchmaking pages, groups and comments on social media.
Female tele-callers allegedly contacted the men and assessed their financial background before sending them photographs of women sourced from the internet and presenting them as prospective brides.
Once a victim showed interest, money was allegedly sought under different categories. The women would speak to victims for several days before rejecting the proposed alliance on grounds such as “Manglik dosh”, family disapproval or the woman having become engaged elsewhere. If a victim sought more matches, callers allegedly offered details of other profiles available on the portal.
Police said the alleged scheme kept victims engaged for months by repeatedly presenting marriage profiles and then rejecting matches over social or economic differences.
How Did Police Trace the Alleged Network?
The investigation began after a complaint alleged that a man was lured through a website and cheated of ₹15,000 through registration, profile access, activation and contact-unlocking charges.
Police traced the money to an account registered in the name of “MS Shaadi Partner Com”. Analysis of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal database showed that the account was linked to six complaints from different parts of the country involving a similar method, according to police.
A police team raided a fully operational call centre at an apartment in Agra on September 4. A 44-year-old woman, described as the proprietor of the firm on paper, was arrested along with eight female tele-callers.
What Was the Advocate’s Alleged Role?
During questioning, the arrested woman allegedly disclosed Kumar’s role in the operation. Police said Kumar had created a layered arrangement to distance himself from the alleged fraud.
The proprietorship firm “M/s Shaadi Partner Com” was allegedly placed in the woman’s name, while a franchise agreement was executed with Netnexis Solutions (OPC) Pvt Ltd. Kumar allegedly portrayed himself as the firm’s “legal advisor”, allowing him to claim that he was providing only legal services and was not responsible for the call centre’s operations.
The firm was also registered under MSME and the Uttar Pradesh Labour Department, while banking channels and SIM cards were procured in its name, police said.
How Was Amit Kumar Arrested?
Police said Kumar switched off his mobile phones and went underground after learning about the raid. Technical surveillance subsequently helped investigators track him to Agra.
He was intercepted in the Kala Kunj area on September 8 while travelling in an SUV. Police said Kumar showed his Uttar Pradesh State Bar Council credentials and claimed that he was only a legal counsel.
Investigators confronted him with digital evidence allegedly linking him to the operation, after which he was arrested. Police said the alleged syndicate had been operating for around a year.
How Was the Call Centre Allegedly Managed?
Police said the female tele-callers were paid ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 a month along with a 10% commission. They allegedly had a monthly collection target of ₹15,000, with salary cuts or termination for poor performance.
The alleged syndicate also refunded victims who threatened to complain and used those refunds to get frozen bank accounts restored, according to police.
What Did Police Recover?
Police recovered seven desktop CPUs, 47 mobile phones, ₹50,000 in cash and an SUV. Digital evidence suggests there could be thousands of victims, according to police.
Investigators are examining WhatsApp chats, records and bank trails to identify victims and determine the scale of the alleged fraud. Further investigation is underway.
The420 Takeaway: “A Matrimonial Match Should Not Become a Payment Chain”
The alleged operation shows how online matchmaking can be turned into a prolonged financial trap, with victims repeatedly asked to pay for registration, profile access, activation, security deposits and contact details. Multiple payment demands tied to accessing or continuing conversations with prospective matches should be treated with caution, particularly when profiles and photographs cannot be independently verified.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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