Five Arrested in Matrimonial Honeytrap and Fake Forex Scam: Dilsafar Illusion Exposed

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A transnational cyber fraud network was dismantled by the Cyber Centre of Excellence, which uncovered a ₹15.31 crore scheme leveraging fabricated matrimonial profiles to funnel illicit trading activities.

The Dilsafar Honeytrap and Fake Forex Terminals

The scheme combined psychological manipulation with deceptive financial tools

Fraudsters created fictitious female personas on the Dilsafar matrimonial platform, using names such as “Jigyasha Kapoor,” to establish trust with victims. After prolonged engagement to build emotional connections, operators redirected interactions to encrypted messaging apps like Telegram. A Surat-based businessman was lured into investing ₹50,000 as an initial deposit, with the platform artificially displaying rapid returns and facilitating a small withdrawal to validate legitimacy. This tactic convinced the victim to transfer ₹1.47 crore into multiple accounts controlled by the perpetrators. The scheme collapsed when the platform blocked all withdrawal requests, demanding an additional ₹83 lakh as a “margin shortfall” to release funds.

Interstate Corporate Mules and the Nepal Routing Connection

Investigations uncovered a corporate account under “R.P. Chemicals” linked to the fraud

The financial trail revealed a multi-tiered distribution mechanism. The Rajkot Midlevel Layer involved intermediaries such as Yagnik Ashokbhai Ramani and Dr. Jaideep Kumar Batuklal Aradesana, who managed physical logistics, including SIM card rotations and digital ledger monitoring. Funds were then routed through a Delhi-based handler to Sarfaraz, who oversaw asset distribution from Nepal. This network exploited cross-border financial loopholes to obscure the origin of illicit proceeds.

Technical Asset Seizures and Safety Verification Directives

Law enforcement recovered seven smartphones, forged identification documents, and corporate registration packages used to create shell entities

Cybercrime officials emphasized that fraudsters increasingly blend romantic deception with unverified trading platforms to exploit public trust. A warning was issued to individuals and investors, urging verification of trading entities through regulatory bodies like SEBI and immediate reporting of suspicious transactions to the cybercrime response hotline at 1930.

The case highlights the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, who exploit emotional vulnerabilities and financial systems to execute large-scale fraud. Authorities continue to monitor and dismantle such networks to mitigate financial and reputational risks for victims.