Delhi Police have arrested a 38-year-old Ugandan national for allegedly duping a city resident of ₹1.9 lakh through a fake dating-app profile. The accused, identified as Michael Iga, was reportedly living in Burari without valid documents and had been frequently changing locations across Delhi-NCR to evade arrest.
According to police, the complainant from Kishan Garh matched with a woman on a dating platform, where she claimed to work for a beauty-products company. After gaining his trust, she offered him a lucrative business proposal purchasing and reselling a “rare oil” from Assam with high profit margins. Believing the pitch, the victim transferred ₹1,90,000 to multiple bank accounts. Soon after receiving the money, the woman blocked him.
Investigations revealed the entire persona on the dating app was fake. The photos used on the profile belonged to Iga’s girlfriend, and the “rare oil” scheme was fabricated. An FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Using digital footprint analysis, money trail checks, and technical surveillance, the police tracked down Iga.
During the arrest, officers recovered four mobile phones, a laptop, six debit cards, and ₹22,500 in cash, all believed to be used in cyber-fraud activities. Police also found that Iga is connected to at least 14 cyber-fraud complaints registered on the National Cyber Reporting Platform across different states and Union Territories.
Interrogation revealed that he routinely created fake female profiles on dating apps to honey-trap victims and convince them to invest in fictional high-return schemes. Authorities have also confirmed he was residing illegally in India.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and more victims may come forward as the case widens.
