Man Arrested for Using AI-Generated Police Identity in Dating App Fraud in Ahmedabad
A 27-year-old man in Ahmedabad was arrested for using AI-generated photographs and forged documents to pose as a police officer on dating and matrimonial apps, defrauding at least 21 women across four states by emotionally manipulating them into sending money. The accused created convincing fake identity credentials and government letterheads using digital tools to claim he faced legal troubles or financial emergencies.
What happened
A 27-year-old man identified as Himanshu alias Rocky Panchal was arrested by Ahmedabad Crime Branch for posing as a Police Sub-Inspector on dating and matrimonial platforms including Shaadi.com, Jeevansathi, Bumble and Hinge.
Panchal used AI-generated photographs showing himself in police uniform, forged identity cards, fabricated appointment letters and suspension notices, and fake government letterheads to gain the trust of women. Police recovered forged documents bearing 'Govt of India', 'Crime Branch cybersecurity', Gujarat Police logos, police belts, badges and Ashoka emblem stickers from his possession.
The accused emotionally manipulated women by claiming he faced legal troubles, departmental inquiries, frozen bank accounts or financial emergencies, and extracted money from them. Investigators revealed he used fake letters purportedly issued by government departments, including fabricated Income Tax raid notices.
Reported impact
Panchal reportedly cheated at least 21 women across four states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. In one case, a Naroda woman gave him approximately Rs 1.8 lakh and allowed him to use her bank account and SIM card after he promised marriage, while another Navrangpura woman transferred Rs 79,700 after he claimed he needed money for house construction.
Index analysis
The incident demonstrates how AI-generated images and digital forgery tools can be weaponised to create convincing false identities for fraud. The accused leveraged the trust-building environment of matrimonial and dating platforms combined with fabricated official credentials to manipulate victims into financial transfers.
Governance controls
Police sources indicated that Panchal resumed his fraud activities immediately after securing bail in a prior rape and impersonation case registered in Maharashtra last year, suggesting potential gaps in supervision or enforcement of bail conditions.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.