Lured by money, duped by lies: Illegal surrogacy racket exploits women

THE social media advertisement promised to 'Find your surrogate mother in 7 days!' with the tagline 'Speed and precision to match you with the surrogate.'

- P RAMDAS @ Kochi

But, as it turns out, behind the polished online posts and promises lurks a network that preys on poor, illiterate women luring them with offers of quick money to become egg donors and surrogates.

The recent busting of a ring linked to a fertility clinic in Kochi has exposed an illegal assisted reproductive technology (ART) racket flourishing in Kerala.