AI Brides, False Marriage Promises: Jhansi Police Bust Fake Matrimonial Call Center, 11 Held

In a major crackdown, Jhansi Police busted a fake matrimonial call centre that allegedly cheated people on the pretext of arranging marriages. The Nawabad Police and the Cyber Cell arrested 11 members of the racket, including nine women.

Police told CNN-News18 that mobile phones, a MacBook, computers, ATM cards, cheque books, a biometric machine and other items worth nearly Rs 9 lakh were seized during the operation.

Documents showing financial transactions worth approximately Rs 41 lakh across seven different bank accounts were recovered, said the police, adding the process of getting these accounts frozen was underway.

How The Scam Unfolded

According to Ariba Noman, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jhansi, investigators received information that a fake call centre

was operating from a house in Rai Colony. After obtaining permission from the Additional City Magistrate, a raid was conducted on Wednesday night and all 11 accused were arrested.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly revealed that they worked at the call centre under the guise of regular employment and lured people by promising to arrange their marriages. They shared AI-generated pictures of women posing as potential brides to defraud victims, ASP Noman told CNN-News18. 

Victims were then persuaded to transfer money into bank accounts through QR codes provided by the operators. The ’employees’ at the call centre were reportedly paid a monthly salary along with commissions.

An investigation into the wider network behind the racket and search for other people connected to the alleged fraud is underway. Further legal proceedings remain ongoing.