New Delhi: The Delhi Police cybercrime unit has arrested a 23-year-old man accused of scamming over 700 women through dating apps by posing as a US-based model. The accused, Tushar Bisht, allegedly exploited platforms like Bumble and Snapchat to extort money by blackmailing women with private photos and videos, officials revealed on Saturday.  

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), Vichitra Veer, Bisht created fake profiles using a virtual international mobile number and pictures of a Brazilian model.

"Posing as a US-based freelance model, the accused gained the trust of his victims through conversations and convinced them to share private and intimate images and videos," said Veer.  

Bisht primarily targeted women aged 18 to 30 years on platforms such as Bumble, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. Once he obtained sensitive content, he would blackmail his victims by threatening to leak the material online or sell it on the dark web unless they paid him.  

Preliminary investigations revealed Bisht interacted with over 500 women on Bumble and 200 others on Snapchat and WhatsApp. His phone contained incriminating evidence, including objectionable data of victims, virtual mobile numbers, and financial transaction details related to extortion. Police also seized 13 credit cards during the raid.  

Victim’s complaint led to arrest  

The case came to light when a Delhi University student filed a complaint on 13 December 2023, at the cyber police station. She alleged that she had connected with the accused on Bumble earlier that year.  

"Posing as a US-based model visiting India for work, he gained her trust through consistent chats," said the DCP. As their interactions grew, Bisht persuaded her to share private photos and videos on Snapchat and WhatsApp.  

The victim became suspicious as the accused evaded her requests to meet in person. Matters escalated when he sent her a private video she had shared and demanded money.

"Pressured, the victim made small payments citing financial constraints, but the relentless demands drove her to inform her family and lodge a complaint," the DCP added.  

Arrest and interrogation  

A special team identified Bisht and tracked him to Shakarpur, East Delhi, where he was arrested during a raid. During interrogation, Bisht admitted to using a virtual international mobile number for over two years, obtained via an app, to register on dating platforms and pose as a glamorous model.  

"Initially, he did this for amusement but later turned it into a calculated scheme to extort money. He confessed to possessing private content of numerous women and blackmailing several of them for financial gains," said the DCP.  

Bisht hails from a middle-class family in Shakarpur. His father works as a private driver, his mother is a homemaker, and his sister is employed in Gurugram. A BBA graduate, Bisht had been working as a technical recruiter at a Noida-based private firm for three years.  

Police are investigating further, having uncovered chats with more than 60 women from Delhi and nearby areas. Two bank accounts linked to Bisht have been identified. One account shows multiple transactions from victims, while details of the second account are awaited.  

Delhi Police urged citizens to exercise caution while engaging on online platforms and report suspicious activity promptly.  

(agency input)