Delhi Police have arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian who was accused of defrauding more than 100 women across India by posing as a UK-based Korean businessman on a language exchange application.
According to the Hindustan Times, the suspect, identified as Stephane but operating under the aliases “Dominic” and “Duck Young,” was apprehended on Monday, September 29, from a rented apartment in Tilak Nagar, West Delhi.
The alleged scam followed a familiar cyber-enabled romance pattern, where fraudsters exploit social and dating platforms to deceive victims.
In this case, accomplices allegedly posed as government officials, calling victims to demand money for Stephane’s supposed “release.”
Many women, believing they were helping a friend, or even a potential partner, transferred large sums digitally.
The fraud came to light when a victim named Anjali reported losing Rs 48,500. She said “Duck Young” claimed he was detained at Mumbai airport and later received calls from men posing as immigration officers demanding an additional Rs 2 lakh. When she refused, he disappeared.
Police tracked Stephane through call records, bank accounts, and social media activity. During his arrest, they recovered a mobile phone filled with fake profiles and chats involving more than 100 women.
Under interrogation, he admitted entering India in 2019 on a six-month tourist visa using an Ivorian passport to bypass restrictions on Nigerians at the time. After overstaying illegally and running out of funds, he turned to online fraud.
Authorities said online romance scams were on the rise globally, particularly in India, where rapid digital adoption has often outpaced awareness of cybercrime risks.
Fraudsters typically exploit loneliness, trust, and the search for meaningful connections, using platforms such as language exchange apps, dating sites, and social media.