Delhi Police Arrest Nigerian Over Scam of 100 Women

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Delhi Police have arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian national accused of masterminding a large-scale online romance scam that defrauded more than 100 women across India.

The suspect, identified as Stephane but operating under the aliases “Dominic” and “Duck Young,” was apprehended on Monday, 29 September, from a rented flat in Tilak Nagar, West Delhi.

Investigators said the accused posed as a UK-based Korean businessman on a language exchange application to lure unsuspecting victims. Using fabricated identities, he allegedly exploited trust and emotions to persuade women to transfer money.

The Delhi cybercrime unit revealed that his accomplices pretended to be government officials, calling victims to claim that “Duck Young” had been detained at airports and demanding payment for his release. Many women, believing they were helping a potential partner, sent large sums digitally.

The case came to light when a victim, Anjali, reported losing ₹48,500. She explained that “Duck Young” claimed he was stopped at Mumbai airport. Soon after, she received calls from men posing as immigration officers demanding an additional ₹2 lakh. When she refused, he disappeared.

Police traced Stephane through call records, bank accounts and social media activity. During the arrest, officers recovered a mobile phone containing fake profiles and hundreds of chat logs with women across India.

During interrogation, the accused admitted he entered India in 2019 on a six-month tourist visa using an Ivorian passport, allegedly to bypass restrictions on Nigerian visitors. After overstaying illegally and running out of money, he turned to romance fraud and cybercrime.

Authorities have warned that romance scams in India are rising sharply, fueled by rapid digital adoption and low awareness of cyber fraud. Criminals typically exploit loneliness and the search for meaningful connections, targeting women on dating apps, social media and language platforms.

Delhi Police confirmed that further investigations are under way to identify Stephane’s accomplices and recover stolen funds.

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