More than 40 men in India allegedly became victims of a fake marriage scheme after brides never arrived. The men attended a mass wedding ceremony and waited for hours before discovering the suspected fraud.
The incident occurred in Madhya Pradesh, where a man allegedly posed as a marriage matchmaker. He reportedly promised to arrange marriages for several families seeking suitable brides.
According to reports, the victims paid money after receiving assurances that weddings would take place. However, the promised brides never appeared at the venue.
Families Lured Through False Marriage Promises
One victim, Abhishek Verma, reportedly became involved after his parents searched for a bride. A man from a nearby village allegedly offered to help the family find a match.
The suspected matchmaker reportedly asked families to select orphan brides from a photo album. He also instructed them to pay around $200 to participate in a mass wedding ceremony.
Believing the arrangements were genuine, families agreed to the proposal. Consequently, dozens of grooms prepared for what they expected to be their wedding day.
Grooms Waited Hours Before Realising Fraud
Around 40 grooms arrived at the venue in late May wearing wedding attire. They reached the location early in the morning and waited for the ceremony to begin.
However, no brides arrived throughout the day. By evening, the men realised they had allegedly fallen victim to a scam.
Police officer Preeti Katare said most victims were between 20 and 40 years old. She added that many came from rural communities and may hesitate to report the incident because of embarrassment.
Authorities have registered fraud cases against the alleged matchmaker and his accomplices. Meanwhile, police continue investigating the suspected marriage scam.
