Pregnancy Scam: What is a pregnancy scam? How does one get trapped?

Pregnancy Scam: An online trap that targets both curiosity and greed, where fraudsters are defrauding people of crores of rupees in the name of pregnancy jobs. Let's find out how people get trapped.

Pregnancy Scam: The methods of fraud in the internet world have become increasingly bizarre. Sometimes it's a lottery, sometimes a gift card, and now there's a new trap: the pregnancy scam. The name may be amusing, but this scam has already siphoned off crores of rupees across the country. Recently, a contractor in Pune, Maharashtra, fell victim to this scam, trusting an online advertisement for a "pregnant job service" and losing 11 lakh rupees. How people get trapped in this scam spread on social media is the real story of this digital fraud.

One day, an advertisement appears on social media, claiming, "We need a man who can impregnate infertile women, a chance to earn lakhs of rupees." This is the first step, and this is where the fraudsters' trap begins.

"Pregnancy scams" have become a new trend in cyber fraud. Fraudsters create fake profiles on platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp. From there, they post attractive advertisements with names like "Pregnant Job Service," "Helping Infertile Women," or "Donation Program."

The advertisements claim that this work is being done legally through certain social organizations or medical institutions. To convince people, they display fake certificates, fake government documents, and even agreements "signed" in the name of a prominent celebrity.

Once the victim is convinced, they extort money from them in the name of registration fees, medical tests, and taxes. An investigation into this case in Pune has revealed that the largest network of such frauds is operating from Nawada district in Bihar.

The biggest reason for this scam's success is shame and hesitation. Because the matter involves pregnancy or sexual matters, victims often avoid filing a police complaint. Scammers exploit this vulnerability and often threaten to file a police report against them, forcing victims to pay more money out of fear.

This scam isn't just about monetary fraud, but has also taken the form of digital blackmail. Cases of victims' data, selfies, and identity cards being misused for ransom or for the production of pornographic material are also emerging.

Indeed, this story isn't just about a fraud, but a warning that not everything that glitters is gold in this open internet marketplace. Sometimes, the most unique offer turns out to be the most dangerous trap.