Matrimonial frauds on rise in Odisha; ‘Voice Changer’ app new technique to cheat people

Cuttack: A new way of cheating has emerged online in Twin City Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The fraudsters are now duping people through matrimony websites.

The fraudsters are defrauding the bride or groom’s families through matrimony websites by talking through the ‘Voice Changer’ mobile application, the Commissionerate Police warned.

The matrimonial websites, which help people to get bride and groom, have become a new mean through which the fraudsters are cheating the users in a tricky way, the CP said.

As people are depending more on matrimonial websites during COVID situation to find brides and grooms, the online fraudsters are taking advantage of the pandemic. They are contacting the brides and grooms on the phone numbers available on users’ profiles on the websites. They are proposing marriage with fake photographs and attractive personal information. The cyber frauds are using the ‘Voice Changer’ app for communication posing as the parents of either bride or groom to convince people for marriage. Once, people come under their trap, the cyber criminals are demanding huge amount of money for wedding. After they receive money, they are switching off the mobile phone. Such activities are rampant these days, the Commissionerate Police said urging the citizens to be vigilant.

In view of such cases being registered with the police, the CP has opened a help desk for citizens. The victims can dial 8895812304 or 7328077144 to register a complaint with the police.

Releasing the phone numbers, the Commissionerate of Police has warned people not to share their credit card numbers, debit card numbers or any confidential information with anyone who is asking for it.

Besides, genuine users who have created accounts on various matrimonial websites are advised not to meet anyone from matrimony contacts in isolated places.