'AI images, fake identity': Chennai techie cheated of Rs 27

A 33-year-old software professional from Chennai was defrauded of Rs 27 lakh by individuals who utilized AI-altered media to impersonate a woman on the dating app Tinder. The victim, believing he was building a genuine relationship, transferred the funds over time before realizing he had been targeted by a scam.

What happened

The incident began when the victim matched with a profile named Monica on Tinder. The interaction eventually moved to WhatsApp, where the perpetrators established a rapport to gain the victim's trust. To maintain the illusion of a real identity, the accused, identified as 29-year-old Jaikarthik Raja and 28-year-old Monica, employed sophisticated digital deception. Jaikarthik Raja reportedly created the fake profile using AI-altered images to appear authentic, while his partner, Monica, sent voice notes to the victim to further convince him of her identity.

Once the victim was sufficiently convinced, the accused began requesting money under various pretexts. The victim complied, transferring a total of Rs 27 lakh over a period of time. When the demands for money persisted, the victim grew suspicious and filed a formal complaint with the Avadi cybercrime police. Following an investigation, authorities arrested both suspects and seized two mobile phones, two cheque books, and seven credit and debit cards. The accused were subsequently produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.