Woman Thought She Was Buying a Home with Boyfriend She Met on Bumble — But Says He Turned Out to Be a Scam Artist Who Stole $272,000 from Her

A woman recently came forward with a harrowing tale of being scammed out of a staggering $272,000 by her boyfriend, whom she initially met on the dating app Bumble. Brandon Dae Up Kiehm, aged 45, was charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny in what authorities have described as a “romance scam.” According to reports, Kiehm allegedly convinced the victim to jointly purchase a property in Brooklyn, only to deceitfully transfer the funds from the purchase into an account he shared with an accomplice.

The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin L. Bragg Jr., made the troubling announcement on December 18th, revealing the extent of the fraudulent activities carried out by Kiehm. The victim, a 44-year-old woman, fell prey to Kiehm’s schemes after meeting him online in 2019. Under the guise of a false identity, Kiehm allegedly portrayed himself as a finance professional and a graduate of Stanford University. In a bid to further deceive the victim, Kiehm proposed the idea of purchasing a property in Brooklyn through an auction in February 2020.

Despite the victim’s absence at the auction due to work commitments, Kiehm claimed to have secured the property on their behalf as the second-highest bidders. To maintain this position, he coerced the victim into sending a cashier’s check of $78,250 to the supposed trustee of the property. The elaborate ruse continued as Kiehm fabricated the failure of the highest bidder’s payment, prompting the victim to send additional funds totaling $193,750 via wire transfers.

As the victim uncovered discrepancies and suspicious clues, including identification cards and mail addressed to an unfamiliar name, the elaborate facade constructed by Kiehm began to unravel. It was later revealed that Kiehm’s real identity was Brandon Dae Up Kiehm, a fact that he ultimately confessed to. Investigations further disclosed that the funds extorted from the victim were swiftly withdrawn as cash by Kiehm and his associate, leaving a trail of financial devastation in their wake.

Notably, this is not the first instance of Kiehm engaging in fraudulent activities. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to charges of grand larceny, identity theft, and scheme to defraud, where he swindled multiple victims out of significant amounts of money. Despite serving a shortened prison sentence following his previous conviction, Kiehm’s return to duplicitous dealings has raised concerns over the prevalence of romance scams in today’s digital landscape.

The alarming nature of this case underscores the importance of exercising caution and due diligence, especially in online relationships that may seem promising but ultimately conceal nefarious intentions. As the investigation into Kiehm’s latest exploit continues, authorities are urging individuals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to prevent falling victim to similar fraudulent schemes. The repercussions of such scams extend beyond financial losses, often leaving emotional scars and shattered trust in their wake.

In a bid to combat the rise of romance scams and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation, law enforcement agencies and dating platforms alike must collaborate to implement stringent security measures and raise awareness about the tactics employed by scammers. By shedding light on cases like the one involving Kiehm, society can strive towards a safer and more secure digital landscape where individuals can forge genuine connections without fear of deceit and manipulation.