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In February 2020, Surya, a mother of two and the sole breadwinner for her family, found herself in a dire financial situation after an accident left her unable to work.
Overwhelmed by debts amounting to 500,000 rupees ($6,101) and with her husband unemployed, she made the desperate decision to sell one of her kidneys, Al Jazeera reported today.
Knowing that kidney sales are illegal in India, she turned to the internet for potential buyers, stumbling upon numerous web pages by searching “kidney” and “sell” on her smartphone, the report added.
‘Kidney For Money’
After leaving her contact information on a Facebook page she had found during her desperate search for potential buyers, Surya received a call from a man identifying himself as Dr. Sandy. He claimed that the Gitroh Medical Centerin Ghaziabad, near New Delhi, was interested in purchasing her kidney for a staggering sum of 10 million rupees ($122,000). This amount would not only enable her to pay off her debts but also support her family’s expenses for many years.
The only requirement was for Surya to fill out a form and pay 8,000 ($97,6) for a donor card, which would facilitate the sale process. Just before making the payment, Surya stumbled upon the MOHAN Foundation (Multi-Organ Harvesting Aid Network), a non-profit organization promoting organ donations and issuing donor cards for deceased organ donors. To her surprise, the foundations’ helpline operator informed her that there is no payment required for a donor card, suggesting that she had fallen victim to a scam.
Founded in 1997 by Dr. “Sunil Shroff”, a British-trained transplant surgeon, the MOHAN Foundation aims to address the growing need for kidney transplants in India. The country faces a significant burden, with nearly one million people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease each year and 200,000 reaching end-stage kidney failure, resulting in numerous deaths.
While the MOHAN Foundation has made notable progress in promoting cadaver organ donations, scams have also proliferated. The foundation discovered that its name was being exploited by fraudulent middlemen seeking to deceive unsuspecting individuals. The foundation began collecting and monitoring calls from victims, uncovering the extent of the issue.
Recorded conversations reveal the tactics employed by scammers. In one conversation, “noted the Al Jazeera report”, a fraudster posing as Dr. Karan demanded payment of 7,894 rupees as registration fees before proceeding with the kidney sale. When the victim expressed concerns about living with one kidney, the fraudster dismissively responded: “You can live as long as life offers you.” Another victim reported paying 9,999 rupees ($122) for a fake living donor card and subsequently losing contact with the scammers.
Dr. Shroff acknowledged the positive impact of organ donation initiatives but recognizes the need to address the gaps that scammers exploit. In comments to Al Jazeera, he described the situation as a combination of “extreme goodness with extreme wickedness.” While genuine organ donation is a noble act, the exploitation of vulnerable individuals represents a grave offense, he explained.
Encouraged by the MOHAN Foundation, Surya and other victims reported their experiences to the Chenna police. While she was initially skeptical about involving the authorities, Surya said she ultimately decided to share her story to raise awareness and prevent others from making the same mistake. Unfortunately, organ trafficking and scams remain prevalent in India, despite regulations governing organ transplants.
Facebook, a ubiquitous platform in India, has emerged as a hub for the illicit organ trade. Desperate sellers and buyers turn to the platform in search of hope, while scammers take advantage of their vulnerability.
