Targeting a student leader, the impostor posts pictures of themselves on dating apps and spreads them

With the rise in popularity of dating apps comes a rise in fraud cases that are now ongoing. The fact that making accounts on other apps is so simple is presumably a factor in the growing problem.

In the most recent instance, online scammers created phony accounts on many dating apps using the identity of a student leader as their target. Her Instagram photos were taken and added to the accounts, most likely for the purpose of “authentication.”

The complaint said, “I study in Kochi and have been active in student politics,” but choose to remain anonymous. Thanks to my political efforts, I have a large number of social media friends. Through acquaintances back home, I learned of a fake Tinder account that was using my identity and photos. The account sent them an offer to go on a casual date. The imposter created the profile using my Instagram photos.

The profile was later removed after a Tinder complaint on the account.

Things didn’t stop there, either, since an identical profile with her name showed up on another dating app. “An other profile was located on an obscure dating app. After reporting the profile, I’m waiting for a response. At first, I thought the culprit had to be one of my political competitors. But the requests were addressed to my buddies back home. I really doubt that the person posing as me on Instagram is the one responsible for the impersonation, she said, adding that her term as the chosen college union-bearer had ended.

In response, the Ernakulam cyber police have opened a complaint and begun an investigation to identify the individuals responsible for fabricating the false profile. There is a registered case under the IT Act.