Delhi police bust child modeling scam, over 197 parents duped of crores

Two individuals were arrested in October for allegedly running a fake child modeling scam that defrauded at least 197 people, Delhi Police reported. The scam, operating under the name ‘Lotus Star Kids’, promised modeling opportunities and brand deals for children.

According to a TOI report, the scam came to light after a woman from Dwarka, who lost Rs 5 lakh in the scheme, filed a police complaint. She had responded to an advertisement on Facebook, leading her to a Telegram group where the fraudsters operated.

“I kept seeing their ads on social media stories almost every day. The photos showed such happy children in beautiful clothes, working with big brands. When I finally clicked on it, they immediately messaged me, saying my daughter was ‘the perfect look’ they were searching for,” the victim told TOI.

The fraudsters used fake testimonials and brand names to lure parents into investing money through a points-based system. They initially returned small profits to gain trust, encouraging victims to invest larger sums.

The police investigation, which followed the money trail through multiple accounts, led them to the suspects operating from a shack in Nangloi, Delhi. DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh stated that the scammers specifically targeted parents who posted pictures of their children on social media.

The police recovered over Rs 4.7 crore and are currently investigating the full extent of the scam.