Police in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district have arrested a 24-year-old man accused of running a fraudulent matrimonial call centre that allegedly used AI-generated photographs of women to attract prospective grooms through Facebook and Instagram.
The accused, identified as Parmanand Yadav, allegedly operated the business for around three months using names including Kalyan Matrimony, Elite Match Matrimony and Future Partner. Investigators suspect that the operation collected money from men seeking marriage proposals and then stopped responding after receiving payments.
Police have reported seizing cash, mobile phones and other equipment valued at approximately ₹2.83 lakh. The investigation is continuing to establish the number of people affected and the total financial loss.
How the Alleged Matrimonial Fraud Worked
According to investigators, advertisements featuring AI-generated images of women and contact numbers were circulated on social media platforms. The photographs allegedly presented fictional profiles as potential marriage partners.
Interested men contacted the advertised numbers and shared their biodata. Call-centre representatives reportedly assured them that they could help arrange meetings with women featured in the promotional material. However, police allege that the women shown in the advertisements did not actually exist.
The operation reportedly received around 20 to 50 calls each day, indicating that its advertisements were reaching a substantial number of prospective customers.
QR Codes Allegedly Used to Collect Payments
Investigators allege that callers were asked to scan QR codes linked to bank accounts described as belonging to marriage counsellors. An initial payment of ₹2,000 was reportedly demanded, followed by additional charges under different headings.
After receiving the payments, the operators allegedly blocked customers' telephone numbers and discontinued communication.
Complaints linked to several associated bank accounts had reportedly been recorded on the government's Samanvaya cybercrime coordination portal. Authorities are examining the financial records to understand how the accounts were used and whether additional individuals were involved.
Police Raid in Bhilai Leads to Seizure
Acting on a tip-off received on October 29, police raided a hall at Uttar Gangotri Bhawan in the Supela area of Bhilai, near a Union Bank branch. The premises were allegedly operating under the name Elite Match Matrimony.
Four young women were found working at the location. Police said they had reportedly been recruited with promises of monthly salaries of ₹7,000, received two days of training and were assigned to communicate with prospective customers and collect payments.
Their awareness of the alleged fraudulent activities has not been established in the available information. Their roles and possible involvement will need to be assessed as part of the investigation.
What Police Recovered
The reported seizure included:
₹1.64 lakh in cash.
22 keypad mobile phones and four Android phones.
16 SIM cards.
A computer and Wi-Fi device.
Cheque books and a bank passbook.
Promotional banners and QR codes.
Registers containing customer telephone numbers and payment details.
The seized material may help investigators identify people who contacted the centre, trace payments and examine the accounts allegedly connected with the operation.
Police have not disclosed the total number of victims or the overall amount allegedly collected.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Yadav was booked at Supela police station under Sections 317(2) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These provisions concern dishonestly receiving stolen property and cheating by personation, respectively.
After his arrest, he was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged operation and identify any other people connected with it.
Precautions When Using Online Matrimonial Services
The case highlights the risks associated with unverified matrimonial advertisements and profiles that use artificially generated photographs. People looking for marriage partners should independently verify a service provider and the identity of individuals before sharing personal information or transferring money.
A direct video conversation or an in-person meeting, where appropriate and safe, can help establish whether a profile represents a genuine person. Users should also be cautious when asked to make repeated payments through QR codes, particularly when the receiving account belongs to an individual rather than a verified business.
It is equally important to protect personal and financial information. OTPs, banking passwords and other confidential credentials should never be shared with unknown callers.
Anyone who suspects that they have been targeted by an online financial scam can report it through India's cybercrime helpline 1930 or the official portal cybercrime.gov.in. Businesses handling customer information and payments can also strengthen their controls through Shunyatax's financial investigation and forensic support.