Fake Dating Profiles & ‘Rare Oil’ Scam: Ugandan National Arrested for Cheating AIIMS Researcher of ₹1.90 Lakh
- Stephania Chopra
- Dec 8
- 2 min read
Delhi Police on Saturday arrested a Ugandan national accused of orchestrating a large-scale romance-cum-investment cyber fraud, after he allegedly duped an AIIMS researcher of ₹1.90 lakh through a fake dating profile and a fabricated “rare oil” business scheme.
The accused, identified as 38-year-old Micheal Iga, had been living illegally in North Delhi and was allegedly running a cyber-fraud syndicate in the city. According to police, he has links to at least 14 cybercrime cases registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, with total fraud amounts running into several crores across multiple states.
How the Scam Operated
Investigations revealed that Iga created multiple fake identities of women on dating and social media platforms using photographs of his girlfriend. After gaining victims’ trust through emotionally driven online conversations, he allegedly encouraged them to invest in a high-return business scheme involving a “rare oil”.
In the present case, police said the AIIMS researcher met the fake profile on the dating app Happn, exchanged numbers, and stayed in touch for nearly a month. Posing as an employee of a beauty-products company, Iga convinced the researcher to invest in a business opportunity involving a rare oil supposedly sourced from Assam. Victims were told the oil cost ₹2 lakh per litre and could be resold for ₹3.5 lakh, promising instant profit.
The Arrest
Iga was arrested on December 8 from Burari after a series of raids in Burari, Gurgaon, Mehrauli, and surrounding areas. Police recovered:
₹22,500 cash
Four mobile phones
A laptop
Six debit cards reportedly used to receive defrauded money
A special team led by Inspector Pravesh Kaushik traced the accused using sustained technical surveillance, as he frequently changed locations to avoid arrest.
Foreign National Under Watch
The Delhi Police have informed the Uganda Embassy and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) regarding Iga’s illegal stay in India. During interrogation, he admitted to creating fake female identities, emotionally manipulating victims, and luring them into the fraudulent investment scheme.
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