Four Nigerian nationals have been arrested in India over their alleged involvement in a coordinated social media fraud scheme involving impersonation and online deception.
Reports indicate that three of the suspects were arrested in Gurugram after allegedly creating fake female profiles on social media platforms to lure victims into online relationships and financial scams. A fourth suspect was separately arrested in Uttar Pradesh by a special task force linked to a related investigation.
Authorities say the suspects used multiple fake identities on platforms such as Instagram to build trust with victims before defrauding them. In one case under investigation, a victim reportedly lost about ₹69,900 after being misled into sending money under the claim that funds were required to process a transaction at Mumbai airport.
During the arrests, police recovered several items believed to have been used in the alleged operation, including multiple mobile phones, a laptop, and numerous SIM cards used for communication and identity switching.
Investigators say the case began after a victim lodged a complaint, triggering a wider probe into the suspected fraud network. Authorities are continuing efforts to determine whether the suspects are linked to a larger cybercrime syndicate operating across borders.
The arrests highlight the growing global crackdown on online impersonation and social media-based fraud, which continues to target victims through deceptive digital identities and emotional manipulation.
Source: The Punch
