Three Nigerians staying illegally in India have been arrested for allegedly duping people after opening fake profiles on dating websites, police in the Asian country said Saturday.

They were also alleged to have scam unsuspecting Indians through fraudulent visa assistance and job offers.

The arrested Nigerians have been identified as Franklyn Chinedu Uzowuihe (32), Ukegbu Emmanuel Chigozie (40) and Samuel Chizoba (34), they said.

The accused had created scores of fake profiles on different matrimonial websites and duped people, police said.

“They have cheated dozens of people on the pretext of providing visa assistance, marriage inducement, foreign jobs, etc. They used to contact people on various social media platforms and offer services for obtaining visa of various countries. They would then induce the unsuspecting victims to deposit money, ranging from 25,000 to 3.5 lakhs, in various bank accounts,” a police release said.

The gang was busted after the Cyber Crime Unit received a complaint where a man was asked to deposit over Rs 2 lakh rupees in various bank accounts.

The victim was induced by the accused persons to deposit around Rs 2.5 lakh in various bank accounts to get a gift, cleared from customs, which was supposedly sent for him from the UK, the police said.

Later, when he did not receive any parcel and the accused persons started asking for more money, he got suspicious and filed a case, they said.

“A complaint was received at Cyber Crime Unit in which the complainant had alleged that he was cheated by a group of unknown persons on the pretext of friendship/marriage. He was induced by the accused persons to deposit around Rs. 2.5 lakh in various bank accounts to get a so called gift/parcel cleared from customs which was supposedly sent for him from the UK,” the release said.

“Later, when he did not receive any parcel and accused persons started asking for more money, he got suspicious and refused to give the money.”

During the investigation, it was discovered that the Nigerians had been staying illegally in India for over four years after their visas expired.

It was also discovered that the trio have cheated dozens of people on the pretext of providing visa assistance, marriage inducement, foreign jobs.

Efforts are being made to identify their other victims, they added.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of law and further investigation is underway.