A cybercrime unit of Delhi Police’s South-West District has arrested a 35-year-old man, Anand Kumar, from West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas for allegedly running a large-scale online fraud operation involving romance scams, honey-trapping, and extortion targeting women across India.
According to investigators, the accused created multiple fake identities on dating apps, matrimonial platforms, and social media, posing as professionals such as a doctor, lawyer, businessman, and even a film producer. Using these fabricated personas, he built emotional connections with victims, gained their trust, and then began extracting money under various pretexts, including promises of marriage, medical emergencies, financial losses, or business opportunities.
Police revealed that Kumar targeted over 500 women and is believed to have cheated or extorted nearly ₹2 crore. In several instances, he allegedly obtained private photos and videos from victims during online interactions and later used them to threaten exposure, thereby forcing them to pay money.
The case surfaced after a woman filed an e-FIR reporting a fraud of around ₹7 lakh. She had been contacted by a fake Instagram profile under the name “Vaibhav Arora,” which initially approached her through a dating app. After gaining her confidence, the accused shifted communication to Instagram and WhatsApp using multiple phone numbers. He promised marriage and even introduced another fake identity, “Anand,” claiming he would arrange a meeting with his family.
Over time, the accused fabricated stories about urgent financial needs, including health emergencies and business setbacks, to solicit money. When the victim demanded repayment, he cut off communication and later falsely informed her that “Vaibhav” had died, attempting to end all contact.
Following the complaint, police conducted a detailed technical investigation, analysing IP logs, phone numbers, social media accounts, and financial transaction records. Surveillance eventually traced the activity to the North 24 Parganas region. After coordinated raids and sustained tracking, the accused was apprehended.
A forensic examination of his devices revealed that he operated several fake identities simultaneously, including names such as Vaibhav Arora, Dr. Rohit Behl, Tarun, Anand Sharma, and Shikha. He used multiple mobile phones and SIM cards registered under different identities and frequently changed devices to avoid detection.
During the arrest, police recovered four smartphones, eight SIM cards, three debit cards, as well as gold jewellery—including bracelets and chains—allegedly purchased using the defrauded money. Investigators also found that a portion of the funds had been spent on online gaming and personal expenses.
Authorities confirmed that Kumar is a repeat offender, with previous involvement in similar cybercrime cases in Delhi and Ghaziabad. The investigation is ongoing to identify additional victims and uncover the full extent of the network and financial trail.
