Bogus matchmaker nabbed by police

Sharjah - Man deceived young men and women over the internet

A man in his twenties has been apprehended by the Sharjah police for deceiving young men and women over the internet and swindling them of their money.
The swindler pretended to be a matchmaker and convinced his victims that he can help fulfill their marriage dreams.
He posed as a woman and gave himself a fictitious name (Umm Reem). He then went on to collect as much as Dh60-70,000 from his naive clients.
The police investigations showed that the bogus matchmaker was a young man and lives in Dubai.
He convinced his victims that he had many contacts, both men and women, who were seeking marriage.
As soon as he snares his victim, he would ask for cash upfront as a matchmaking commission and other money as tips in order for him to complete the matchmaking formalities.
His last victim was a girl from Sharjah. He communicated with her and promised her that he would search for a bridegroom, in return of which he asked her to remit a sum of money through a money exchange. However, after he had received the remittance, he disappeared.
That had made the girl suspect foul play and she reported the matter to the Sharjah Police.
The matchmaker was soon arrested in a sting operation. When interrogated, he confessed to having had impersonated as a female matchmaker to defraud those seeking marriage, especially GCC nationals.
He told investigators that his victims used to send him money though a money exchange. His mother would go to receive the money as he did not possess any documents.
The Criminal Investigation Department of the Sharjah Police are urging the public not to fall prey to such swindlers, who resort to different fraudulent schemes to cheat them.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com