A warning has been issued regarding a Calgary man accused of using online dating apps to victimize women.
The Calgary Police Service has issued a warning regarding Ali Kiani, 43, who is believed to be interacting with women on online dating apps while using a false identity. He lures women by gaining their trust and later sexually assaulting them.
Kiani identified himself as 'Alex' in the messages he was exchanging with a victim earlier in Feb. 2024.
Following an exchange of messages online through the dating app for a week, the victim met with Alex in-person at a local coffee shop.
A day after the coffee shop meet, Alex requested to spend more time with the victim at her home. The victim agreed, and when Alex arrives at the victim's home, he began sexually assaulting her.
The victim reported the sexual assault immediately to police.
In the meantime, Alex had quickly deleted his profile from the dating app and blocked access to his cellphone subscriber information.
The Sexual Assault Investigative Unit began an investigation through which the suspect was identified. The police believes Kiani frequents several dating apps and uses falsified names and profiles to meet victims.
“I want to thank the victim for coming forward to report this sexual assault,” says Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson of the Calgary Police Service Sexual Assault Investigative Unit. "After an extensive investigation, we were able to identify the man responsible and hopefully prevent him from victimizing others who he has come in contact with via online dating apps.”
Police urges victims of sexual assault to report it regardless of when it occurred, and anyone with information about this, or similar incidents, is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods: TALK: 1-800-222-8477 or TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org.
