Kolkata Police Investigate Seventh Gay Dating App Fraud Case
Police in Kolkata have reported another disturbing case of online fraud targeting the LGBTQ+ community. A 21-year-old youth from Murshidabad fell victim to an extortion scheme after meeting someone through a gay dating app.
Victim Confined and Robbed in College Street Market
The incident occurred on January 10 at Bornoporichoy Market near College Street. According to the police complaint, the victim arranged to meet a man he connected with on a dating app. They met around 9 pm on the market's second floor.
While they were talking, two other men arrived at approximately 12:15 am. These individuals immediately began threatening the young man. They demanded money and valuables, allegedly threatening to kill him if he refused to comply.
The victim was confined for about four hours during this terrifying ordeal. He was forced to transfer Rs 21,000 through PhonePe. The perpetrators also took two gold rings and a silver chain from him before finally letting him go.
Police Make Arrest, Identify Pattern
Jorasanko Police Station registered the case and quickly made an arrest. Md Rehman, a 30-year-old resident of Shambhu Chatterjee Street, was taken into custody. Investigators determined that Rehman operated the bank account that received the fraudulent PhonePe transfer.
Senior police officers revealed this marks the seventh reported case of similar fraud in Kolkata over the past year. The pattern appears consistent across multiple incidents in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal.
Criminal groups are allegedly using dating apps and online platforms to contact gay and bisexual men. They pose as potential partners to arrange meetings, then rob and assault their victims.
Ongoing Investigation and Digital Evidence
Police are actively working to identify and arrest the remaining suspects involved in this case. Investigators are examining several digital trails to trace the other individuals.
- Transaction details from the PhonePe transfer
- App-based communications between the victim and suspects
- Other digital footprints left by the criminal group
Efforts continue to dismantle these fraudulent operations that prey on vulnerable individuals seeking connections through dating platforms. The investigation remains ongoing as police follow multiple leads.
