Mumbai Cyber Crime Cell arrests man for cheating 30 models

A 25-year-old man was arrested by Mumbai’s cyber crime cell for allegedly cheating 30 models by posing as a model co-ordinator.

In September 2015, a 19-year-old Mumbai based model had filed a complaint against the accused with Mumbai’s Cyber Crime cell for duping him of Rs 10,000.

According to the complaint, the victim had come across an ad on social media for good-looking male and female models for ad-shoots in various metros across the country. The ad mentioned a pay of Rs 10,000 for a day’s shoot and Rs 1.35 lakh for a nine day shoot.

Interested in taking up the offer, the model sent in his application alongwith his photographs. The next day, he received a reply from the accused – Lokesh Kumar, claiming that he had been selected for photo shoot for a fabric and sportswear brand. In order to complete the formalities, he was asked to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 for drawing up the initial contract. The victim paid the amount online.

After making the payment, he failed to hear back from Kumar for weeks. After repeated attempts of getting in touch with him failed, the model filed a complaint with the cyber crime cell.

The cyber crime cell traced Kumar’s cell phone to Delhi and sent a team there to investigate. Cops managed to nab him in Delhi on Wednesday and brought him to Mumbai on Thursday.

After his arrest, Kumar confessed to cops that he resorted to cheating models to earn a living after his parent’s death. Police suspect his involvement in over 30 duping cases from across the country.