Be wary of fraudulent marriage proposals: Police

Police yesterday warned women not to fall into the trap set by individuals who published advertisements saying they were looking for widows and divorcees for marriage but later vanished taking the cash and jewellery belonging to those who fell prey to these vultures.

The advertisers usually pretend to be rich businessmen.

The individuals then lure the women into parting with their valuables pleading that the land the individuals had bought on a bank loan was on the verge of being taken over as they were temporarily out of funds.

A senior police officer said the victims had complained that the suspects had always spoken about their grievances before talking to them about a land or a house in dispute.

“She is somehow persuaded to help the individual and the woman volunteers to sell her jewellery and give him cash to

Be wary when responding to advertisements by vultures who prey on unsuspecting widows and divorcees

resolve the matter,” he said. “Soon after the victim falls prey, the suspect disappears. The information he has given is found to be false. We managed to trace the culprits through their mobile numbers.” Police said despite repeated warnings several women have been found to have fallen prey to such fraudulent schemes. Police stations countrywide have been informed about this kind of fraud.

Women and Children’s Bureau Units at police stations in the Matara, Anuradhapura, Kantale and Ratnapura have received a number of complaints from women.

Several suspects were arrested with some of them known to have lured more than three or four women with similar stories.