Gang extorting targets using fake dating profiles busted

New Delhi: A gang that used fake profiles on dating platforms to trap and extort people through explicit video calls was busted by police.Two people have been arrested so far. According to police, a 22-year-old resident of Shahdara filed a complaint, saying that he had connected with a woman named "Nandini" on a dating app. After exchanging numbers, they began chatting on WhatsApp. The woman initiated a video call when in the nude, during which the complainant's face was visible on the screen. Unknown to him, the call was being screen recorded. She soon began threatening to leak the recording on social media unless he paid her. Fearing humiliation, the victim transferred Rs 35,000 to an account she shared, said additional DCP (Shahdara) Deependra Kumar Singh.When she demanded more money, the complainant alerted the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. A police team began tracking the digital footprint. The investigation showed that the money was transferred to a bank account created in the name of Mangal Singh (31). However, the account was being operated by another accused, Shyam Singh (21).Shyam allegedly opened the account using Mangal's documents and mobile number under the guidance of another man identified as Aamir. Shyam was arrested on June 13.Shyam confessed to orchestrating the fraud, obtaining SIM cards and opening bank accounts online by paying others small sums of money, a senior police officer said. "Mangal was arrested the following day and admitted that he was paid Rs 10,000 in total — Rs 6,000 online by an intermediary named Harjeet Singh, and Rs 4,000 in cash by Shyam in exchange for giving access to his account, ATM card, cheque book and SIM," the officer added.Police have found four phones and three SIM cards. Further investigation is on.