16 April,2026 10:07 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The accused also allegedly blackmailed victims by threatening to circulate their private photos and videos online. Representational pic
Delhi Police on Thursday arrested a man for allegedly defrauding more than 500 women across the country of nearly Rs 2 crore, news agency ANI reported. The accused duped the victims by targeting them through dating and matrimonial applications, officers said.
According to the Cyber Police of the South-West District, the accused has been identified as Anand Kumar, a resident of West Bengal. Officers further stated that he had been involved in honey-trapping, romance scams, and blackmailing for a considerable period.
Police said that the accused created multiple fake accounts across social media platforms, posing as a doctor, businessman, or film producer, to gain the trust of women, ANI reported.
A police officer said, "He would establish emotional connections with the victims by promising love and marriage. Later, he would fabricate stories such as medical emergencies, business losses, or urgent financial needs to extract money."
In several instances, Kumar also allegedly blackmailed victims by threatening to circulate their private photos and videos online.
He targeted over 500 women and cheated them of approximately Rs 2 crore over time, reported ANI, quoting the police. A victim's complaint, alleging a loss of around Rs 7 lakh, brought the case to light.
Soon thereafter, the authorities traced and arrested Kumar from the 24 Parganas area of West Bengal using technical surveillance and digital tracking.
While further investigation into the case is still underway, the authorities have recovered four mobile phones, eight SIM cards, debit cards, and gold jewellery from his possession.
Delhi Police, in coordination with Shahdara Cyber Police, busted an investment fraud racket involving Rs 10 lakh on April 11. Three accused, identified as Sumit, Sandeep, and Kamal Kumar, were arrested for allegedly luring people through WhatsApp groups with promises of high stock market returns.
As per officers, the complainant was contacted in December 2025 and cheated of around Rs 10 lakh. After receiving the money, the accused neither provided any returns nor refunded the amount.
The victim was later blocked from all communication platforms. During the investigation, the police traced bank accounts and digital transactions through technical analysis. Subsequently, raids were conducted in the Rohini area, leading to the arrest of three accused.
(With inputs from ANI)
