Key Points:
Online dating scams increased by 20% in early 2025, mainly via social media and dating apps.
Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado lured victims on Grindr, kidnapped them at knifepoint, and demanded ransom.
Delgado was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison with an additional five years of supervised release.
With the rising number of scams in recent years happening all over the world, dating scams are nothing new. The advent of social media and dating applications has certainly boosted romance scams — with some of them ending in gruesome ways.
For instance, in 2025, a Connecticut woman lost nearly $1 million in a romance scam. But have you ever come across the story of a suspect who lured people through dating apps and kidnapped them for ransom? This incident occurred in 2022, when Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, a Venezuelan national, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for orchestrating an online dating scam.
The online dating mania has become such a regular norm in society that fraudsters have started targeting potential victims through this growing trend. According to data reported by Barclays, romance scams conducted through social media and dating apps increased by 20% at the beginning of 2025.
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A shocking incident that demonstrates “every way a friendly date can go wrong” took place when a potential match on the gay dating app Grindr turned into a terrifying experience. Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, from the Venezuelan Republic, used the alias “Sebastian” to lure his victims into believing they were going on a genuine date.
Delgado would pick up his male victims from an agreed location under the pretext of a date. He would then stop the vehicle, allowing his accomplice to enter the car.
According to reports, the second man would help Delgado restrain the victim at knifepoint and ultimately hold them hostage. After kidnapping them, Delgado would make ransom calls to the victims’ friends and family members.
There were reports of multiple scams orchestrated by Delgado and his accomplices, all following a similar criminal pattern. Three U.S. men were reportedly kidnapped between July 5 and July 30, 2022.
The victims were coerced into calling their families for ransom money, which was to be transferred to an online banking account. They were held at knifepoint until the ransom was paid.
Investigations revealed that ‘two serrated knives’ were found inside Delgado’s vehicle. They also robbed the victims of valuable items they carried, such as wallets and phones, before releasing them onto the streets.
Following the incidents, victims reported the crimes, prompting the FBI to request an investigation. Dominican authorities initiated their probe in August 2022, and the case was officially investigated by the FBI’s Miami Field Office.
He was found guilty in the District of Columbia on December 11, 2023, and was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for the crimes he committed. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri. Delgado was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after his 25 years prison term. [Rh]
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