THANE: A producer of Bhojpuri films from Lucknow has been arrested for operating an online fraud operation involving fake matrimonial profiles, dating websites, and running a fake call centre for sextortion. The scam, which targeted men and women, has cheated people several crores of rupees, said an officer from Mumbra police station.
The small-time Bhojpuri film producer, Ejaz Ahmad alias Fahad, the main accused in the case, was arrested following a six-kilometre chase in Lucknow when he attempted to flee in his vehicle, the police have claimed.
His arrest follows the apprehension of his accomplice, Zaid Khan, who had been held from Bhopal. The accomplice had revealed details of their operation to the police. TOI had reported the arrest of Zaid Khan and the fraud.
The investigation began when a woman from Mumbra reported being cheated of Rs 13.5 lakh through a matrimonial website, where one of the accused had posed as a US-based diamond trader.
The accused operated a fake call centre from a 1,500-sq-ft facility in Lucknow, using a specially designed website for honey-trapping and sextortion. Female employees were allegedly involved in the operation, helping to lure victims through explicit conversations and video calls, said the police officer.
The Mumbra police arrest by having officers pose as locals in Lucknow. The investigation is ongoing as police work to identify more victims and recover the looted money estimated to exceed Rs 1 crore. Electronic gadgets used to carry out the fraud have been seized.
Deputy commissioner of police Subhash Burse revealed that the probe uncovered at least 80 victims, including 30 women, who had been targeted through various online platforms. "The fraudulently obtained money was being used to produce Bhojpuri films," said the police officer.
It is learnt that Ejaz had recently produced a film, and had plans to produce a music video featuring two prominent singers.
There is growing concern over online matrimonial and dating frauds, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated methods to target victims through legitimate-looking platforms.
Users are urged to be careful while using such sites, as they can lose substantial money to scams that are prevalent and target gullible citizens, said Burse.
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