NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — What appeared to be a promising online romance with plans to buy a Brooklyn home together allegedly turned into a costly betrayal.
A woman who met 45-year-old Brandon Kiehm on the dating app Bumble believed she was building a future with him. Instead, authorities say she became the victim of a romance scam that cost her nearly $300,000. Kiehm was charged Thursday with second-degree grand larceny.
According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Kiehm is accused of manipulating his girlfriend’s trust by fabricating an elaborate story about purchasing a Brooklyn property together.
“The victim believed she was buying a home with her boyfriend, when in reality, he allegedly stole approximately $272,000 of her hard-earned money,” Bragg said. “We allege Brandon Kiehm built this relationship on deception and repeatedly exploited her trust.”
Court records state Kiehm met the 44-year-old woman in 2019, introducing himself under the alias Dae Up Lee Kim. He claimed to be a Stanford-educated finance professional. The two entered what she believed was a serious relationship and lived together until 2021.
In early 2020, Kiehm allegedly persuaded the woman to invest in a Brooklyn home on Decatur Street that he claimed was being sold at auction. While she was traveling for work, he told her he attended the auction and that they placed the second-highest bid. To secure their position, he instructed her to send a cashier’s check for $78,250 to what he described as the property trustee.
Weeks later, Kiehm allegedly told her the top bidder had fallen through and asked her to send additional funds. She complied, wiring $86,750 and $107,000 to the same supposed broker.
Prosecutors say Kiehm never attended the auction and never placed a bid. The money was sent to an associate of his and quickly withdrawn in cash.
The scheme unraveled when the woman discovered identification documents bearing the name Brandon Kiehm, which she did not recognize. Further investigation revealed Kiehm’s true identity and confirmed with the property broker that no bid had ever been made.
Authorities also revealed Kiehm has a prior criminal history. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to grand larceny and identity theft involving similar romance scams, as well as theft from a dog walker.
Kiehm was arraigned Thursday and released under supervision. The investigation remains ongoing, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is urging potential additional victims to come forward.
