Netflix's Sweet Bobby Exposes UK's Longest Catfishing Scam

Kirat Assi, a London-based radio presenter and events manager aged 44, received a Facebook friend request in 2009 that would define the next decade of her life. The request came from "Bobby Jandu," presented as a cardiologist from west London with connections to the Sikh community. What began as an online friendship quickly evolved into a romantic relationship conducted entirely through text messages, Skype calls, and voice notes.

For nine years, Kirat believed she was in a genuine relationship with Bobby. The couple never lived together or maintained a traditional partnership, but Bobby's constant communication and apparent emotional investment convinced Kirat of his sincerity. Early in their acquaintance, Kirat met the real Bobby Jandu briefly in person during a night out in Brighton, which seemed to validate the relationship's authenticity.

Bobby's explanations for why they couldn't meet in person were elaborate and varied. He claimed he'd been shot, suffered a stroke, experienced a heart attack, and developed a brain tumour. At different points, he said he was fathering a secret child and later claimed to be in witness protection. Each excuse was reinforced by fake contacts—people Kirat believed were Bobby's friends or medical professionals—who corroborated his stories through separate communications.

The deception unraveled in 2018 when Kirat finally confronted the truth: "Bobby" was actually her cousin, Simran Bhogal, who had orchestrated the entire scheme using false identities and fabricated narratives. The revelation devastated Kirat, who found herself questioning her own judgment and ability to recognize manipulation.

The story first reached public attention through the Tortoise Media podcast *Sweet Bobby* in 2021, but gained significantly wider exposure with Netflix's release of *Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare* on October 16, 2024. The 104-minute documentary, produced by the team behind acclaimed films *The Tinder Swindler* and *American Nightmare*, combines interviews, real images, animations, screen recordings, and voice recordings to chronicle the manipulation.

Simran Bhogal has not faced criminal charges for the deception. However, Kirat pursued civil action against her cousin, which resulted in compensation and a formal apology. In a statement included in the documentary, Simran characterised the matter as "private" and rejected the accusations against her.

The case is widely regarded as the UK's longest-known catfishing scam, highlighting the psychological vulnerabilities that online deception can exploit. For Kirat, the experience raised uncomfortable questions about trust, loneliness, and how easily digital communication can mask identity. Her documented struggle to process the trauma—including moments where she blamed herself for not seeing through the deception—resonates with broader conversations about online safety and emotional manipulation.

Netflix's documentary approach ensures that Assi's voice remains central to the narrative, documenting not only how the catfishing occurred but also its emotional aftermath. The film serves as both a cautionary tale and a study of how familial bonds can be weaponised, and how the internet enables deceptions that would be impossible in purely physical relationships.

**Sources** https://www.ndtv.com/feature/sweet-bobby-new-netflix-documentary-shows-london-womans-9-year-catfishing-nightmare-6836568

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/netflix/netflix-documentary-sweet-bobby-catfishing-cousin-reason-516599-20241017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-mINQCpWfY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CH-MZC3vw

https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/film/sweet-bobby-podcast-documentary/917891