Gurgaon: A 36-year-old IT graduate has been arrested for allegedly cheating an Italian jewellery designer of 900 euros, which roughly translates to Rs 98,000, by “love bombing” her, promising to marry her and claiming he needed the money for AI content creation.Police said Akhil Maurya had worked with software companies like Saxo Group and RiskBerg Consulting. He was earning around Rs 1 lakh a month working as a technical support employee with RiskBerg before losing his job in July 2025. He was living at a PG in Sector 17A from where he was arrested on Thursday.Police said that he was undergoing a financial crisis when he befriended the Italian woman on Instagram around Feb this year. He introduced himself to her as an AI content creator. An officer said the woman spoke to Maurya initially because she wanted to promote her jewellery design through AI content.However, he gradually developed a close relationship with her and allegedly used “love bombing” — excessive attention, affection and flattery aimed at building emotional dependence — before promising to marry her.Maurya then allegedly told her that he needed money for his work. She transferred 900 euros through Western Union, which was subsequently transferred to Maurya’s bank account through Muthoot Finance in Gurgaon. After bank charges were deducted, Rs 67,297 was credited to his account, police said.ACP (Cyber) Gaurav Fogat said the woman had first contacted him through WhatsApp on his official number around the end of July and shared details of the alleged cheating. She had also tried to get a case registered in Italy but could not do so. “She told me that she was willing to travel to India if we helped her register the case and catch the accused,” Fogat said.The ACP said he remained in touch with the woman for nearly two months and assured her that the police would register her complaint if the matter fell within its jurisdiction. The woman then travelled to Gurgaon on Sept 28 and approached the ACP at the cyber crime office. “After examining the details, the jurisdiction was found to be Cyber Crime West. The investigating officer immediately coordinated with her and registered an FIR,” he said.Police arrested Maurya within two days. Police said he admitted to the transaction. “Some of the money had already been spent, while around Rs 13,000 was still there in his account,” Fogat said.Police said a background check had so far not revealed any other complaint against Maurya. Further investigation is under way, including examination of the recovered phone and financial transactions.
