35-Year-Old Man Arrested for Duping Women of Nearly Rs 2 Crore via Dating App Romance Scams
In a shocking case of cyber-enabled romance fraud, a 35-year-old man has been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly cheating multiple women across India of approximately Rs 2 crore. The accused, identified as Anand Kumar, reportedly used dating applications to initiate romantic relationships while posing as various professionals, including doctors, businessmen, lawyers, and film producers.
Modus Operandi: Fabricated Crises and False Promises
According to police investigations, Kumar's elaborate scam involved creating fake identities on social media and dating platforms. After establishing emotional connections with victims, he would fabricate urgent crises to solicit money. These included medical emergencies, sudden business losses, financial distress, and pressing family needs.
In one particularly audacious instance, Kumar allegedly faked his own death to sever contact with a victim after defrauding her. This occurred when a woman from southwest Delhi, who had been cheated of Rs 7 lakh, demanded her money back. Shortly after her demands, she received a message from an unknown social media account claiming Kumar had died.
Technical Investigation Leads to Arrest
The breakthrough came when the southwest Delhi victim, suspecting foul play, approached the police. "A police team carried out extensive technical analysis of digital footprints, including social media accounts, IP logs, mobile numbers and financial transaction trails," stated DCP (southwest) Amit Goel.
The investigation revealed:
- Two mobile numbers linked to Kumar were active in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal
- Kumar was communicating with numerous women nationwide
- He used SIM cards obtained under multiple false identities
After conducting multiple raids, police successfully traced and arrested Kumar in West Bengal.
Additional Coercive Tactics Uncovered
Further investigation exposed more disturbing aspects of Kumar's operation:
- He lured women with promises of marriage or career opportunities, including modeling assignments and admissions to prestigious institutions
- During online interactions, he collected personal photos and videos from victims
- He later used this compromising material to threaten victims with social media exposure if they reported him
Recovery of Evidence and Stolen Property
Police seized substantial evidence from Kumar's possession, including:
- Four smartphones used in the scams
- Eight SIM cards obtained under false identities
- Three debit cards
- Gold articles purchased with cheated money, including four bracelets and five chains
This case highlights the growing sophistication of online romance scams in India and serves as a stark warning about the dangers of forming financial relationships with individuals met exclusively through digital platforms.
