Police in Bihar busted a peculiar scam where men were promised a large sum of money in exchange for fatherhood. All they had to do was make a childless woman pregnant and earn up to Rs 10 lakh. The work for the gang was going well until the police busted it and arrested three people.
The alleged scam was taking place in Kahuara village in the Nardiganj subdivision of Nawada district, reported NDTV.
The scamsters would post Facebook advertisements, after which people would call them. The fraudster would ask for several documents, such as a PAN Card or Aadhaar card, and a selfie from their prospective customers in the name of registration.
"They provide 'All India Pregnant Job Service' and also run a 'Playboy Service'. Their MO (Modus Operandi) is that they put advertisements on Facebook," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Imran Pervez.
"After that many people call them. In the name of registration, these people ask for prospective customers' PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and a selfie. They then collect money from the people who fall into the trap of this temptation in the name of registration and booking hotels," the police official added.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the scam, who have been identified as Prince Raj, Bhola Kumar and Rahul Kumar, Pervez said.
Six mobile phones have been recovered from the arrested accused through which WhatsApp chats, photos of the customers, audio recordings, and bank transaction information have been obtained, the police officer said.
In November last year, The Times of India reported a similar scam running in Bihar where unemployed men were targeted on Facebook with the promise of easy money in exchange for fatherhood.
The scam involved fake social media posts and private messages offering hefty sums of money and even property to men who can make women pregnant within a specific timeframe.
The posts would often be accompanied by stolen photos of attractive women and lure men with lucrative rewards like lakhs of rupees and even property shares.
The scammers would then engage with interested men, elaborating on the "pregnancy job" and requesting registration fees or upfront payments for "processing".
Once the money would be received, the scamsters would typically cease the communication leaving the victim financially compromised.