Two men from Delhi, Amit alias Aarav (23) and Mohd Rizwan (24), were arrested for running an online romance scam by posing as young, unmarried women on social media to cheat unsuspecting men out of money.
According to the Surajpur police, the duo created fake profiles using names like “Mansi,” “Sanju,” and “Nandani” on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. They used stolen photos of women to build credibility and befriended men by expressing interest in romance and marriage.
Once the victims were emotionally invested, the accused requested money for fabricated emergencies — including medical issues, family problems, and wedding arrangements.
The scam came to light when a Greater Noida medical store employee filed a complaint alleging he was duped of Rs4.5 lakh. He said a woman he met online later proposed marriage, but when he asked to finalize it, another man—claiming to be her brother—threatened him with legal action for “obscene conversations” and extorted an additional Rs20,000.
DCP (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy stated that the accused manipulated their victims emotionally and financially, later blackmailing them using threats and fake family roles.
Police launched an investigation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and IT Act, tracking the accused through electronic surveillance and social media activity. They were arrested on Sunday, and two mobile phones and a motorbike were seized from them.
Authorities suspect more victims may have been targeted and are working to trace the full extent of the racket. The DCP urged the public to be vigilant on social media and avoid sharing personal or financial details with strangers.
