Ejaz Ahmad, a Bhojpuri film producer from Lucknow, has been arrested for his involvement in an elaborate online fraud operation that tricked victims using fake matrimonial profiles, dating websites, and a call center dedicated to sextortion. According to an officer from Mumbra police station, the scam defrauded people of several crores of rupees.
Ahmad, also known as Fahad, was caught after a six-kilometer chase in Lucknow when he attempted to flee in his vehicle. His arrest followed the apprehension of his accomplice, Zaid Khan, who had been arrested in Bhopal earlier. Khan provided authorities with key details about their illegal operation.
The investigation began after a woman from Mumbra reported losing Rs 13.5 lakh to a fraudulent matrimonial website, where an accused individual had impersonated a US-based diamond trader. The scammers operated a fake call center from a 1,500-square-foot facility in Lucknow, using a deceptive website designed for honey-trapping and sextortion. Female staff were reportedly involved in enticing victims with explicit conversations and video calls.
The Mumbra police were able to make the arrest by having officers pose as locals in Lucknow. Further investigation revealed that at least 80 victims had fallen prey to the scam, including 30 women, with fraudulently obtained money being funneled into the production of Bhojpuri films. Police have seized electronic devices used in the operation and are continuing to search for additional victims and recover the stolen funds, which are estimated to exceed Rs 1 crore.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Subhash Burse confirmed that the fraud was widespread across various online platforms, raising concerns about the growing prevalence of online matrimonial and dating scams. He urged users to exercise caution on such sites to avoid becoming victims of similar schemes.
