TL;DR: On April 16, 2026, The CSR Journal reported that the South-West District cyber police in Delhi arrested Anand Kumar, 35, of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Police say he posed as a doctor, businessman and lawyer on dating, matrimonial and social apps, affecting more than 500 women with about ₹2 crore in losses, and blackmailed some with private images.
What happened
The CSR Journal reports that a team from the PS Cyber unit in Delhi's South-West District arrested Anand Kumar, 35, a resident of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, after coordinated raids in the region. Police say more than 500 women were affected, with losses of about ₹2 crore. These are police allegations.
How the case began
A victim filed an e-FIR over a roughly ₹7 lakh fraud through a fake Instagram profile called “Vaibhav Arora”. Contact began on a dating app and moved to Instagram and WhatsApp over multiple mobile numbers. Police say the accused:
- promised marriage and introduced a second identity, “Anand”, to arrange a family meeting;
- invented medical and business emergencies;
- cut off contact and claimed “Vaibhav” had died when the victim asked for her money back.
Aliases and blackmail
Police found the aliases Vaibhav Arora, Dr Rohit Behl, Tarun, Anand Sharma and Shikha on his devices. In several cases he allegedly collected sensitive images and videos during online chats and threatened to post them on social media. Police seized four smartphones, eight SIM cards, three debit cards, and gold bracelets and chains reportedly bought with victims' money, and say much of the cash went to online gaming and personal expenses. Officials say he had been involved in similar cases in Delhi and Ghaziabad.
Red flags
- A “doctor”, “lawyer” or “businessman” who changes names or introduces “relatives” who are really the same person.
- Emergencies that always need money, then sudden silence or a “death”.
- Requests for intimate photos or videos, which can turn into blackmail.
- Different phone numbers used for one relationship.
Learn how to spot a fake profile, use a reverse image search and read how scams work on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and Match.
If you are being blackmailed or have paid
Stop paying, keep screenshots, and report at 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in. Our intimate image takedown guide and 1930 complaint guide help. Scammers often pick targets from exposed contact details, so try our free digital footprint check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many women were allegedly cheated?
Police say more than 500 women were affected, with losses of about ₹2 crore.
Who was arrested?
Anand Kumar, 35, of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, arrested by the PS Cyber unit in Delhi's South-West District. These are allegations.
How did the case come to light?
A victim filed an e-FIR over a roughly ₹7 lakh fraud through a fake Instagram profile called “Vaibhav Arora”.
What should I do if I am blackmailed with private photos?
Do not pay. Keep evidence, report to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in, and use takedown tools to remove images.
Sources
- The CSR Journal: Cyber fraudster arrested for duping 500 women of Rs 2 crore via dating apps (Apr 16, 2026)
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in)