'I need a man to make me pregnant': Contractor falls for Facebook trap, loses Rs 11 lakh
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In the glittering world of social media, cyber criminals are trapping people in new traps. In this episode, a strange case of fraud has come to light involving a 44-year-old contractor from Hadapsar area of Pune. In a fake Facebook advertisement, the woman had written - "I want a man who can make me a mother... Whoever makes me pregnant will get Rs 25 lakh, a car and a share in the house as a reward." The contractor fell prey to this greed and lost Rs 11 lakh after falling prey to a fake company called "Pregnant Job Service".
The contractor came across this advertisement on Facebook in the first week of September. The advertisement featured a photo of an attractive woman and claimed she was unable to conceive and was seeking male assistance. The contractor contacted the phone number provided. The person, who identified himself as an assistant for a "pregnant job company," stated that "registration, ID card, and verification" were required before starting work. Subsequently, the contractor was extorted under various pretexts, including registration fees, GST, TDS, medical verification, and security deposits. Police investigations revealed that the accused gang amassed ₹1.1 million through over 100 online transactions. When the contractor began inquiring, the fraudsters blocked him. He subsequently filed a complaint at the Baner police station.
According to cybersecurity officials, fake advertisements like "Pregnancy Job Service" are being circulated through a nationwide network. The advertisements feature videos of women claiming to be willing to pay a large sum of money to get pregnant. Money is then extorted in the name of registration, medical tests, or legal formalities. Members of such gangs have been arrested in several states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Pune Police has urged citizens to be wary of objectionable or tempting advertisements appearing on social media. Immediately report any suspicious links, calls, or offers to the cybercrime helpline number 1930 or file a complaint on the website www.cybercrime.gov.in.