Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13 (PTI) - A deceptive scheme in Kerala has unraveled as police detained a group that targeted LGBTQ+ individuals through a dating app scam. Operating on Grindr, a social networking and dating application for gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender individuals, the gang exploited the app to extort significant amounts of money from their victims. The police recently arrested four gang members after an aggrieved victim reported that the group robbed him of his gold chain and ring, valued at two and a half sovereigns, following which they abandoned him in a remote location near Palode. According to the Venjaramoodu police, this predatory group primarily targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community, mainly gay and transgender individuals. However, this incident marks the first formal complaint against them. Those apprehended are local youths aged between 18 and 24 years, with Sudheer from Chithara identified as the ringleader. Their accomplices included Mohammed Salman (19), Ashiq (19), and Sajith (18). The victim had connected with the perpetrators via Grindr and arranged to meet them on the Venjaramoodu-Attingal Road on August 7. According to their operation method, the first or second accused would lure the victim into a car, taking them to a secluded area. Subsequently, the third or fourth member would unexpectedly enter the car at high speed, execute the robbery, and then flee. The victim suffered intimidation and assault during the robbery, losing his gold items and being left in the desolate area. Initially, the complainant perceived the incident as a simple highway robbery. However, a comprehensive investigation revealed the orchestrated scam. The police faced challenges in tracking the culprits because the suspects erased the complainant’s phone data, performing a factory reset. Yet, with assistance from the cyber forensic team, officers managed to restore the chat records from the app. Although police believe that the gang extorted substantial sums from numerous victims, social stigma has discouraged many from reporting these crimes. Analysis of the first accused's mobile chats and financial transactions through platforms like Google Pay revealed several other victims. However, they refrained from filing complaints, largely due to concerns regarding their social standing.
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