Nigerian Man Caught in India for Allegedly Scamming Over 100 Women via Language App
A language app meant to connect people across borders turned into a tool for deception in the hands of one crafty fraudster. The story sounds like the plot of a thriller, but it unfolded in real life, leaving more than 100 women in India duped.
Police in Delhi revealed that a 29-year-old Nigerian man, identified as Stephane but often going by the alias Dominic, was arrested in Tilak Nagar. He allegedly pretended to be a Korean jewellery businessman living in the UK and used this fake persona to befriend women on a language exchange platform. Once he gained their trust, the scam began to unfold.
His method was carefully designed: after winning over his targets, he would claim he was stuck at immigration with documents or cheques that needed clearance. To seal the act, his accomplices posed as officials over phone calls, demanding digital payments from the unsuspecting victims.
The scam came to light after a woman named Anjali reported losing ₹48,500. She explained that the so-called “Duck Young” told her he was detained at the Mumbai airport without the required medical card. Soon after, she received calls from individuals pretending to be immigration officers who insisted she pay for his release. When she refused further demands of an additional ₹2 lakh, all contact was abruptly cut off.
Investigators quickly launched a probe, digging into call records, bank details, and social media accounts. Their efforts eventually led them to Dominic’s rented flat in west Delhi, where they discovered a phone filled with incriminating chats and proof of his elaborate schemes. Police believe he used the same trick on more than 100 women across India.
During questioning, Dominic admitted he entered India in 2019 on a tourist visa obtained with a passport from Ivory Coast. Since Nigerian citizens faced visa hurdles, he used that alternative route. After his visa expired, he stayed illegally and, running low on funds, shifted into cyber fraud as his source of income.
The case highlights how technology, while powerful for connection, can also be exploited for deception. It serves as a reminder that not every charming profile on the internet is what it seems, and caution is always the best defense.
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