Punjab police have uncovered a scam involving a mother from India and her Canadian-based daughter, who allegedly targeted young Indian men with the hopes of getting married and moving to Canada. They are alleged to have scammed over $200,000 (₹1.60 crore) from several men and their families.
Sukhdarshan Kaur has been arrested in India after organizing several fraudulent marriages for her daughter, Harpreet, who lives in Surrey, B.C. Police allege Sukhdarshan would seek suitors through newspapers and advertisements for daughter, Harpreet, who then posed as a potential bride and spoke with them on a video call.
The alleged victims were then promised immediate marriages and Canadian visas after their engagements, but the bride never physically came to India. The supposed weddings would then be delayed or even excused.
Sukhdarshan allegedly asked for money from the groom’s families, explaining she had incurred debt after sending her daughter to Canada. Both women would then soon begin requesting money, citing student tuition, rent, and medical emergencies. Some families told OMNI News they sold ancestral land or took out large loans to pay the financial demands. They described emotional trauma and financial ruin as a result of the scam.
The Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in a statement said they cannot comment on specific cases due to reasons of privacy and consent.
“In instances of marriage fraud, enforcement action can be taken which include issuing removal orders to a spouse or partner who commits marriage fraud on the basis of misrepresentation. This could in turn lead to their removal from Canada,” IRCC wrote.
“It is a crime for a foreign national to marry a Canadian citizen or permanent resident only to gain entry to Canada.”
Officials in Surrey have yet to confirm the case or provide any complaints against Harpreet. OMNI News has attempted to contact Harpreet by using a phone number provided by the victims, though, it has been unsuccessful.
Punjab police said they became aware of the scheme after one of the alleged victims, Rajwinder Singh, who already lost over $29,000 (₹18.5 lakhs) received a WhatsApp voice note by mistake. In the voice note, Sukhdarshan, discussed money-related matters and raised Rajwinder’s suspicion, who reported the tip to the police.
Police raided one of the alleged engagements on July 10 and stopped the ceremony, only to find a photograph of Harpreet, without her actual presence. Police then arrested Sukhdarshan, her son, Manpreet Singh, and another suspect, Ashok Kumar.
Inspector Akash Dutt told OMNI News that the investigation revealed transactions of over $200,000 made by several families. Many defrauded families spoke with OMNI News but declined to speak publicly.
Punjab Police have advised families to proceed with caution and thoroughly verify cross-border marriage proposals.
With files from Paramjit Singh, OMNI News
