Creator to conman: Man held for duping aspiring influencers
New Delhi: When his own attempts at becoming a content creator failed to take off, a 27-year-old man from Mumbai began targeting aspiring influencers by offering fake followers and view-boosting services on social media.
Posing as a social media promoter, he lured people with discounted "growth packages," took payments via UPI, and then disappeared without delivering any results. Now, he has been arrested by Delhi Police, with cops linking him to at least seven similar scams reported across the country.
According to police, the scam came to light after an online complaint was received at the cyber police station. "The complainant alleged he was contacted by one Arun Yadav, who claimed to represent an entertainment firm and initially pitched an income-generating opportunity and later offered to boost the complainant's channel to increase revenue," said DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan.
"Although the complainant initially ignored the offer, Yadav kept pursuing him and eventually convinced him to pay Rs 8,000 in six UPI instalments for a limited-time discounted 'growth package.' After receiving the payment, the accused blocked the complainant and cut all communication."
The accused was tracked to Kandivali East in Mumbai by police and apprehended. Upon interrogation, he admitted to his involvement in the crime.
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Further investigation revealed that Yadav initially attempted to build a following for himself by posting reels and videos online. "However, when his own content failed to gain traction, he shifted focus. He began monitoring creators who posted consistently and actively encouraged viewers to like, subscribe, and follow. Identifying them as aspiring influencers eager for engagement, Yadav started targeting such individuals, offering services to boost their online presence," a senior police officer said.
Believing that smaller financial losses would discourage victims from lodging formal complaints, he deliberately demanded modest payments typically under Rs 15,000. He would present these as discounted promotional packages and push for quick transfers, cops said.
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