Two gangs which used matrimonial websites to cheat prospective Indian brides have been busted by a Special Cell team of the Delhi Police.

Five suspects, including Nigerian nationals, have been arrested. The police said hundreds of women were interested in the fake matrimonial profiles and that about a dozen victims were on the verge of being cheated when the gangs were busted.

The gang members posed as wealthy NRIs who were in well-paid jobs in foreign countries.

“The cheats brought in a large number of SIM cards from the U.S., the UK and other countries. They would use the cards to convince their targets that they were indeed based in foreign countries. They would later shift to making internet-based calls,” said a senior officer with the Crime Branch.

Once they had a woman’s attention, they would say that they had either been gifted jewellery by Sheikhs or handsomely rewarded by the United Nations Organisations for commendable work in the field of medical or armed forces.

Once the matrimonial relation was considered fixed, the cheats would tell the women that they were returning to India before which they would have to send the gifted jewellery or gold back home. The women would be told that they were being trusted with receiving the expensive items in India.

“Soon, the victims would receive calls from people posing as Customs officials who would demand large sums of money from them as Customs clearance fees and the likes,” said the officer.

By the time the victims realised they were being duped, they would have shelled out large sums.

In one case, a woman from Hyderabad paid around Rs. 49 lakh before approaching the police. In another incident, a victim from Delhi was duped of Rs. 86,000.

The team working on the case arrested five suspects, including a woman, from their hideouts in Delhi and Gurgaon. The police alleged that the male gang members used certain softwares to change their voice to sound like female Customs officials.