Woman poses as marriage-fixer on Blackberry, swindles money

Dubai: A woman was found guilty of posing as a matchmaker on BlackBerry Messenger [BBM], then hoodwinking a 37-year-old female who was seeking marriage out of thousands of dirhams.

Prosecutors accused the 31-year-old Gulf national woman, Q.D., of deceiving her countrywoman, I.S., and swindling.

“We call on the public, and particularly the avid users of BlackBerry services and social media networks to be more attentive. Girls who are seeking marriage and their parents should be more aware and observant concerning advertisements of matchmakers or marriage-fixers. Female marriage-seekers should not fall easily for such bogus advertisements,” Senior Chief Prosecutor Yousuf Foulaz, Head of Deira Prosecution, said on Sunday.

The Dubai Misdemeanour Court recently convicted Q.D. of swindling, deception and conning I.S. She was fined for her wrongdoing.

“Women who seek marriage should not be easy prey for those who pose as matchmakers via any form of social media networks. We are exerting tremendous efforts to combat that crime. There are too many hoodwinkers who constantly play on the emotions of marriage-seekers, and take their money by claiming that they can find them the perfect husband,” warned Foulaz.

His comments came in light of the increase in number of social media networks that avidly promote matchmakers.

Foulaz said: “Primary investigations revealed that Q.D. falsely claimed that she is a matchmaker and promoted herself via BBM. The defendant tricked I.S. after she added her on BBM. She took money from her as soon as she claimed that she had found her a perfect match… when the victim realised she had been duped, she complained to the police. Dubai Attorney-General’s Technical Office pays close attention to such cases… prosecutors are exerting serious efforts to restrain this crime.”

Available records did not specify how much the defendant was fined.