The Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s North District has dismantled an international cybercrime syndicate that targeted unsuspecting social media users by befriending them and cheating them under the guise of sending expensive gifts and foreign currency.
The racket was allegedly operated by a Nigerian national, identified as the kingpin, with the help of his Indian associates. Police said the accused specifically preyed on lonely individuals seeking companionship on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tinder and various matrimonial applications.
After building trust, victims were enticed with promises of costly gifts and large sums of foreign currency, following which they were coerced into paying hefty amounts on fabricated grounds such as customs duty, clearance charges, late fees and transportation costs. In the case under investigation, a 40-year-old woman from Burari, Delhi, was cheated of Rs 4.20 lakh using the same modus operandi.
According to the complaint, she was contacted on WhatsApp on April 8, 2025, by a person identifying himself as “Nitin Patel,” who initiated a friendship with her. After several days of conversation, he claimed to have sent her a parcel containing a ring, bags, shoes and £50,000 in cash.
On April 16, the woman was informed via WhatsApp that the parcel had reached Delhi Airport and was asked to pay Rs 40,000 for its release. She was later repeatedly coerced into making further payments on the pretext of late fees, transport and clearance charges. On May 20, a person impersonating a police officer threatened her, falsely claiming that “Nitin Patel” had been arrested with foreign currency and demanding Rs 1.30 lakh. By then, she had transferred Rs 4.20 lakh before realising she had been cheated.
An FIR was registered at Cyber Police Station North on September 19, 2025, following which a detailed investigation was launched. A specialised police team analysed data from Google, WhatsApp, IP logs, call detail records of nearly 200 numbers, IMEI details, bank transactions and inputs from e-commerce and delivery platforms.
Investigators found that the cheated money had been routed to a Central Bank of India account in the name of “Shyam” from Bahadurgarh, Haryana, which was later found to be fake. Continuous technical surveillance and raids at multiple locations eventually led to the identification of the accused.
On January 23, 2026, police apprehended a 16-year-old child in conflict with law from Sagarpur, who disclosed the names of his associates, Ansh Oberoi and Kunal alias Sonu. Both were arrested later the same day from Najafgarh and revealed that they supplied bank accounts and SIM cards to a Nigerian national for money.
Following this lead, the police laid a trap by posing as parcel delivery personnel. The Nigerian national, identified as Culibaly Amara (32), was apprehended in the Burari area while attempting to collect a parcel. He attempted to flee after noticing the police presence but was overpowered.
Investigations revealed that he had been residing in India for over seven years and frequently changed locations, often staying in churches or rented accommodations. Searches conducted at his instance led to the recovery of 22 mobile phones, one debit card, 14 SIM cards—including three UK SIMs—and a notebook.
Examination of the seized devices revealed multiple fake Facebook and Instagram profiles, WhatsApp accounts operating from several countries and the use of multiple matrimonial applications. Police also found that the accused routinely discarded SIM cards and bank accounts once complaints were lodged or accounts were blocked.
