The Delhi Police have arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian national accused of defrauding more than 100 women across India by posing as a UK-based Korean businessman on a language exchange application.
The suspect, identified as Stephane but operating under the aliases “Dominic” and “Duck Young,” was arrested on Monday, September 29, from a rented apartment in Tilak Nagar, West Delhi, according to the Hindustan Times.
Investigators said Stephane lured women into online relationships before orchestrating elaborate scams with the help of accomplices, who posed as government officials. Victims were told that “Duck Young” had been detained at an airport and pressured to pay money for his “release.”
The case came to light after a woman named Anjali reported losing ₹48,500. She said she was contacted by individuals claiming to be immigration officers who demanded an additional ₹2 lakh after she initially transferred funds. When she refused, the fraudster disappeared.
Police traced Stephane using call records, bank details, and social media accounts, eventually recovering a mobile phone containing fake profiles and chat histories with over 100 women.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he arrived in India in 2019 on a six-month tourist visa, using an Ivorian passport to bypass travel restrictions on Nigerians at the time. After overstaying illegally and running out of funds, he turned to cyber-enabled romance scams.
Authorities said his operations reflect a broader global trend of online fraud, where criminals exploit dating apps, language exchange platforms, and social media to target victims seeking companionship.
Cybercrime experts warn that such scams thrive by exploiting emotional vulnerabilities, trust, and the desire for meaningful connections, underscoring the need for greater public awareness of digital safety.
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