The Manhattan District Attorney has indicted 45-year-old Brandon Dae Up Kiehm on second-degree grand larceny after prosecutors say he convinced a woman he met on Bumble to fund a purported Brooklyn auction purchase and diverted roughly $272,000 to associates. The alleged scheme involved an initial $78,250 cashier’s check and two subsequent wire transfers of $86,750 and $107,000. Kiehm has been released on non-monetary bail and the investigation is ongoing.
Man Indicted in $272K ‘Bumble’ Romance Scam — Prosecutors Say He Posed as Finance Professional
GettyStock image of an over the shoulder view of young woman looking for a date via dating app on mobile app.
A Manhattan grand jury has indicted 45-year-old Brandon Dae Up Kiehm on one count of second-degree grand larceny after prosecutors say he stole roughly $272,000 from a woman he met on the dating app Bumble, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced on Dec. 18.
Allegations and Timeline
According to the indictment, the victim — a 44-year-old woman — met Kiehm online in 2019. Court papers say he used the name “Dae Up Lee Kim” and portrayed himself as a finance professional and Stanford graduate. In February 2020, while the woman was traveling for work, Kiehm allegedly convinced her to pursue a Brooklyn property at auction and told her he had participated on her behalf.
Prosecutors say Kiehm told the woman they were the second-highest bidders and needed to send a cashier's check to preserve that position. He allegedly asked her to sign sale documents and to send a $78,250 cashier's check to a person presented as the property broker — whom prosecutors say was an associate of Kiehm.
When the highest bidder purportedly fell through, Kiehm allegedly instructed the woman to wire additional funds to the same account. She sent two wire transfers — $86,750 and $107,000 — and signed a contract which, prosecutors allege, Kiehm provided.
oatawa/GettyStock photo of woman pushing heart icon on screen in mobile smartphone application.
Where the Money Went
Prosecutors say the victim’s funds were routed to Kiehm’s associates, quickly withdrawn in cash, and deposited into an account jointly held by Kiehm and an associate before being taken out as cash. The D.A. alleges the transfers and withdrawals were part of a scheme to divert the auction funds away from the intended transaction.
Discovery And Arrest
The woman later discovered identification and mail bearing the name Brandon Kiehm. When confronted, he acknowledged that Brandon Dae Up Kiehm was his real name. The purported property broker subsequently told the victim Kiehm never placed a bid, according to the D.A.’s office.
Kiehm was charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny and released on non-monetary bail. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said,
“Romance scams are all too common, and our office is here to prosecute egregious conduct like this.”The investigation is ongoing.
Prior Convictions
The indictment follows earlier convictions: in December 2017 Kiehm pleaded guilty to grand larceny, identity theft and a scheme to defraud, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors say that in 2015 he defrauded two women of $49,000 by claiming the money was needed for a relative’s cancer treatment, stole $800 from a neighbor, and took $13,000 from a man who hired him as a dog walker. He was sentenced to two to six years in prison and released after one year and eight months.
People magazine reported the case and said their reporters contacted Bumble for comment. The Manhattan D.A.’s office provided the indictment information on Dec. 18.
