A team from the PS Cyber unit in the South-West District has apprehended Anand Kumar, a 35-year-old resident of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. He is accused of orchestrating extensive honey-trapping and romance scams aimed at deceiving women throughout India.

The police reported that Kumar exploited various dating and matrimonial platforms, as well as social media applications, to construct fake profiles under numerous professional identities including that of a doctor, businessman, and lawyer.

The alleged fraudster built a rapport with his victims, fostering emotional connections before extorting money through various deceitful narratives. Reports indicate that he crafted elaborate stories linked to marriage proposals, health crises, financial woes, and career opportunities to solicit funds from his targets.

Investigators have uncovered that Kumar’s operations impacted more than 500 women, resulting in financial losses amounting to approximately Rs 2 crore. In several instances, he collected sensitive images and videos during online chats, using them as leverage to intimidate victims with threats of exposure on social media.

Case Emerges from Victim’s Complaint

The investigation into Kumar’s activities began after a victim lodged an e-FIR detailing a fraud involving around Rs 7 lakh perpetrated by a fake Instagram profile named ‘Vaibhav Arora.’ The alleged fraudster initially reached out through a dating app and established trust before transitioning to Instagram and WhatsApp for communications, using numerous mobile numbers.

Kumar purportedly promised marriage to the victim and introduced another fabricated identity, ‘Anand,’ claiming that he would facilitate a family meeting. Allegedly, he concocted tales of medical emergencies and business setbacks to extract financial assistance. When the victim sought to recover her funds, he ceased communication and ultimately informed her through WhatsApp that ‘Vaibhav’ had died, severing contact entirely.

The police initiated an in-depth technical investigation, analysing digital footprints such as IP addresses, social media profiles, mobile numbers, and financial transaction records.

Surveillance efforts identified active connections in the 24 Parganas region, prompting police teams to conduct coordinated raids across multiple locations.

Evidence and Recovery from Alleged Offender

Upon examining his electronic devices, authorities discovered that Kumar operated several false identities, including names such as Vaibhav Arora, Dr Rohit Behl, Tarun, Anand Sharma, and Shikha. To avoid detection, he utilised numerous mobile phones and SIM cards registered under various names.

During their investigation, police seized four smartphones, eight SIM cards, three debit cards, as well as gold bracelets and chains that were allegedly acquired using the funds obtained from his victims. Authorities also reported that a substantial portion of the defrauded amounts was reportedly used for online gaming and personal expenses.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that Anand Kumar is not a first-time offender, previously being involved in similar cybercrime cases in Delhi and Ghaziabad. This ongoing investigation highlights the pervasive issue of cyber fraud targeting vulnerable individuals through digital platforms.

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