Delhi Police have arrested an overstaying foreign national from Ivory Coast and his live-in partner from Nagaland for allegedly running a cyber fraud racket that targeted women through matrimonial websites.
The accused were identified as Kouadio Victor Nda (36), an Ivory Coast national who was staying in India illegally, and Anei Konyak (30) from Nagaland. They were arrested from a rented house in Hastsal Vihar near Holy Chowk in Uttam Nagar.
Police said the duo allegedly used matrimonial platforms to befriend women, gain their trust and later cheat them by making false promises of marriage.
Investigators revealed that the accused operated several bank accounts and used debit cards linked to mule accounts to transfer and withdraw the money obtained through fraud. Konyak allegedly handled cash withdrawals from different ATMs to avoid suspicion, as a local resident was less likely to attract attention than a foreign national.
The arrests were made by the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Dwarka district during a special drive against cyber fraud networks in Delhi. Acting on specific inputs and after keeping the suspects under surveillance, police found that a group of foreign nationals was allegedly involved in online fraud and using mule accounts to siphon off money from victims.
Based on the information, a raid was conducted at their Uttam Nagar residence, leading to the arrest of both accused.
During the search, police seized four debit cards linked to mule accounts, a laptop, five mobile phones and a passport.
A senior police officer said checks on the Samanvya portal showed that the recovered debit cards were connected to a cyber fraud case registered at Chabua Police Station in Assam’s Dibrugarh district.
Further examination of the mobile phones reportedly revealed details of several bank accounts linked to another cybercrime complaint. Police also found that Konyak allegedly played an active role by contacting victims and helping withdraw the fraud money.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Immigration Act and the Foreigners Act at Uttam Nagar Police Station.
Police said efforts are on to identify other members of the syndicate and determine the full scale of its operations.