Overview
- An FIR was registered at Baner police station after a 44-year-old contractor reported losing Rs 11 lakh to the scheme.
- The victim responded to a video ad promising Rs 25 lakh to "make a woman a mother" and was connected to a purported assistant.
- He was directed to pay registration, identity card, verification, GST, TDS and processing charges through more than 100 UPI and IMPS transfers between early September and October 23.
- When he questioned the demands, the fraudsters blocked him, and police are now tracing the phone numbers and bank accounts involved.
- Investigators note similar scams have circulated across India since late 2022, with arrests in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh linked to related networks.