Nagpur: A gang allegedly running a “foreign groom scam” from a rented bungalow in the Wardhaman Nagar area has been busted by the Nagpur Crime Branch, with six persons arrested in connection with the fraud. Investigators suspect that the gang may have cheated several more women through matrimonial websites and allegedly routed the money collected from victims to Dubai through hawala channels.

The case came to light after a woman from Nagpur approached Ganeshpeth police station and complained of being cheated by persons who had allegedly approached her through a matrimonial platform while posing as a foreign national.

According to the police, the accused targeted women looking for prospective grooms on matrimonial websites. After establishing contact and gaining their confidence, they allegedly posed as foreign nationals and claimed that they were sending expensive gifts to the women.

The accused would then allegedly inform the victims that the gifts had been held up by customs authorities and demand money on various pretexts, including customs clearance and other charges. Once the victims transferred the money, the accused allegedly continued making demands or cut off contact.

Following the complaint, the Crime Branch launched an investigation and laid a trap under the supervision of DCP Deepak Agrawal. The team traced the suspects to a rented bungalow in Wardhaman Nagar and arrested six persons.

Investigators are now examining the gang’s financial transactions and alleged links to Dubai. Police suspect that the money collected from victims was transferred abroad through hawala channels.

The Crime Branch is also probing the gang’s activities on matrimonial websites and checking its digital and financial records to identify other possible victims. Police suspect that several women may have been targeted using the same modus operandi.

Further investigation is underway.