Two Men Arrested for Cheating and Threatening on Matrimonial Site Using Fake Profile of ‘Woman Magistrate’

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Mumbai Cyber Police Nabs Two Men for Matrimonial Fraud and Extortion

MUMBAI: In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai cyber police have apprehended two individuals on charges of cheating and threatening men they met on a popular matrimonial site. The accused, identified as Sunil Modi, 67, and Sanket Chavan, 23, were involved in using a fake profile of a ‘woman magistrate’ to con unsuspecting victims.

According to the police, Sunil Modi, who has a history of being involved in several cheating cases, joined forces with Sanket Chavan, a criminal known for his ability to convincingly speak in a young woman’s voice. The duo, who met at Arthur Road prison, created a fake profile on the matrimonial site, posing as a 21-year-old woman named “magistrate Ashwini Manohar Pandit.”

The deceptive duo went to great lengths to make their fake profile appear legitimate. They forged documents that portrayed Ashwini Pandit as a Judicial Magistrate First Class. Armed with these forged documents, they proceeded to extort money from their victims by threatening to issue warrants against them. To further substantiate their threats, the accused even created fake warrants.

The breakthrough in the case came when a software engineer lodged a complaint with the police, stating that he had fallen victim to a similar scam. Acting swiftly, a team led by Inspector Suvarna Shinde arrested Sunil Modi and Sanket Chavan. Inspector Shinde revealed, “Both the accused have a prior criminal record. They met in prison and decided to join forces after their release.”

The investigation uncovered the modus operandi employed by the accused. Following their release on bail earlier this year, Sunil Modi approached Sanket Chavan with the idea of fabricating documents. Using court stamps, they created documents that falsely presented Ashwini Pandit as a magistrate in the city. They even used the photograph of a Nashik-based influencer without her knowledge to create the fake profile. Subsequently, the profile gained traction on the matrimonial site.

Once potential suitors showed interest, Sanket Chavan, posing as Ashwini, engaged in conversations with them. After a few days, the fake “magistrate” would ask for money, claiming that she had forgotten her wallet and needed funds to visit a doctor. “If the victim refused to pay, she would threaten to issue an arrest warrant against them. She would also send photographs of the warrant, which would intimidate some victims into making payments,” explained a police officer.

The investigation has revealed that individuals from various parts of the state, including Nashik, Ratnagiri, and Mumbai, fell prey to this fraudulent scheme. The police are currently scrutinizing the fake profile to identify other potential victims and trace them.

This latest incident highlights the need for caution while interacting on online platforms. Authorities have urged individuals to exercise vigilance and be wary of fraudulent schemes that prey on unsuspecting individuals seeking companionship through matrimonial sites.

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