Matrimony Scam: Chandigarh doctor duped of Rs 47 lakh, 5 Africans among six arrested

Chandigarh: In an alleged case of online fraud reported in the city, five Africans and an Indian woman were arrested by the cyber cell of the UT police for allegedly duping a lady doctor of Rs 47.22 lakh by creating fake profiles on Christian matrimonial sites where the main accused introduced himself as a doctor from Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Based on the complaint of the woman doctor, the cyber cell police busted the gang operating from Delhi and Greater Noida and arrested six accused in connection with the case.

A case was registered against the main accused at the cyber cell police on January 18 after the doctor was duped under Sections 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. 

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While investigating the case, the police discovered that the accused was a part of a gang that traps innocent people visiting the matrimonial sites and tricks them into paying hefty sums on the pretext of marriage.

Police have recovered 25 mobile phones, 2 laptops, 3 modems and 1 landline phone from the arrested accused. The six accused are aged between 27 - 39.

The accused has been identified as 39-year-old Ubesinechi Kaili Anago, a Nigerian living in Greater Noida and doing a garment business, 35-year-old, Prince Chincheram Onho, a Nigerian running a food restaurant business residing in Delhi's Dwarka, Gunia, 27-year-old Joshua Cheema Kalo, a 28-year-old musician Pascal Guilavogui, living in Greater Noida, 34-year-old Christian Antony alias Chris, a Nigerian musician residing in Greater Noida and 32-year-old Indian woman Shalini, wife of Nigerian accused Prince.

According to the complainant, she came in contact with Dr Christopher (the main accused) through a Christian matrimonial app. Dr Christopher claimed that he was a doctor in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Both started talking to each other and became close. Later they decided to get married.

As per a media report in The Tribune, the fraudster then promised her that he would come to India in January. However, on reaching Mumbai, the accused claimed that he had been detained by the customs department, as he was carrying a demand draft for 2,80,000 Euros.

According to the police, the doctor received a call from a person who introduced himself as an airport employee and claimed she needed to pay Rs 47.22 lakh as customs and currency conversion charges.

She then transferred the amount to different bank accounts given by the suspect. She even took a loan from a bank and her associates said the police.

Following this, the doctor was later shocked and shattered upon learning that the man was a fraud and that she was duped by him. The incident prompted her to file a case at the police station.

The first raid was carried out in Delhi where the police arrested Prince and Pascal. The police have claimed that they tried to break their mobile phone to destroy the evidence of the crime. However, the police have recovered the broken mobile phone.

Police said Prince, Kelly, Chris and Joshva were staying in the country after the expiry of their visas. It came to the fore that earlier, the accused Prince was arrested in a drugs case by Delhi Police and had been released on bail.

Kelly was the main accused, and he and Joshua were both communicating with the doctor. Prince, Pascal and Shalini were also working for Kelly. Shalini was posing as the mother and sister of “Dr Christopher” to gain the victim’s trust. Christian was tasked with arranging bank accounts that were used for fraudulent transactions. He was previously also arrested in a cheating case in Delhi in 2020 and was currently out on bail.

A local court remanded Kelly and Joshva to police custody till January 31, while the other four accused were sent in judicial remanded. The Union ministry of home affairs has been notified about their involvement in other similar cases.

Also read- Delhi Doctor Duped Of Rs 88000 By Cyber Fraudster