In one of the most bizarre cyber frauds reported this year, Pandurang Gopal Chavan, a 44-year-old contractor from Pune, was duped of Rs 11 lakh by cybercriminals who promised him Rs 25 lakh in return for “impregnating a woman.” The fake offer was spread through a viral social media advertisement by a fraudulent entity calling itself “Pregnant Job.”
According to the First Information Report (No. 252/2025) filed at Baner Police Station on October 28, the fraud took place between early September and late October. The victim, a resident of Pashan, narrated how he came across the scam while browsing Facebook.
The trap: ‘I want a man who will make me a mother’
In his statement to the police, Chavan said that on September 3, 2023, he received a Facebook friend request from a profile named “Joyoti Sharma.” The profile featured a woman’s photo, and soon, a person, posing as the same woman, started chatting with him.
“She said, ‘I need a boy who can make me happy by making me a mother. I will give you Rs 25 lakh for that,’” Chavan told the police.
The woman later sent him a link to a so-called “Pregnant Job” website and introduced him to a man who identified himself as Sumit Patel, an “assistant” working for the company. Patel told Chavan that before he could begin the “job,” he needed to register and create an ID on their app, for which he had to pay Rs 700.
The payments begin
Believing the offer to be legitimate, Chavan transferred Rs 700 via UPI to a State Bank of India account number provided by the fraudsters. Shortly after, Patel demanded another payment of Rs 1,150, citing ID processing charges. Chavan complied, transferring the money again through PhonePe to the same UPI ID.
After this, Patel claimed that the registration was complete but that additional payments were needed for GST, TDS, and machine charges before the promised Rs 25 lakh could be released.
Meanwhile, the woman, claiming to be Joyoti Sharma, began sending him videos of children and continued to demand more money under various pretexts.
Over 100 transactions in two months
According to the FIR accessed by Organiser, Chavan made over 100 small transactions via UPI and IMPS between early September and October 23, transferring a total of Rs 11 lakh to multiple accounts, including State Bank of India and Union Bank.
A police officer from Baner Police Station stated, “The complainant was lured, emotionally manipulated, and at times coerced into sending money. Each time he raised doubts, the fraudsters convinced him that his payment would soon be reimbursed along with the promised Rs 25 lakh.”
However, when Chavan began to question the legitimacy of the operation, the fraudsters blocked his number and vanished without a trace. Realising that he had been cheated, he approached Baner Police, who immediately launched a cyber investigation.
Based on his complaint, the police have registered a case under Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with Sections 319(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused.
Investigation underway
Police have begun tracing the digital footprints of the accused through bank accounts, UPI IDs, and mobile numbers used in the crime. Cyber officials are working with the State Bank of India and Union Bank to track the movement of funds.
Officers said this modus operandi mirrors a larger cybercrime racket active since 2022, in which fraudsters post fake videos and ads offering men large sums of money to impregnate women. Victims are then trapped through fake identities and repeated demands for money in the name of legal or medical formalities.
Similar scams across Bharat
Cyber police in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi have reported similar cases over the past two years. Several arrests have been made of individuals involved in comparable scams, which exploit fake video content and social media advertising to lure unsuspecting men.
Officials suspect that such operations are part of a coordinated cybercrime network that uses AI-generated videos, cloned voices, and fake profiles to manipulate victims emotionally and financially.
The Pune Police have urged citizens to remain alert and not fall for any social media advertisements offering unrealistic or immoral “jobs.”
A senior cybercrime officer said, “Fraudsters are now using emotionally suggestive content to trap victims. People must verify the authenticity of such offers and never transfer money to unknown accounts or individuals.”
The case remains under investigation, and authorities are analysing digital evidence to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
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