Vitaly was banned from Kick a few days after the disastrous stream with Akash. But the ban didn't last long -- he's now back, and streaming himself gambling on Stake (where he has a deal). He says that he's going to Europe soon to conduct more predator catches.
In April, a 25-year-old man was visiting LA and met a girl he met on an app for anonymous hook-ups. Soon after he met her, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, livestreaming to 24,000+ viewers on Kick, jumped out of some bushes and falsely accused him of being a pedophile.
From me and @kashhill.bsky.social
It turns out that the decoy who was working with Vitaly forgot to write to the man, Akash Singhania, that she "was actually 16" (she's not 16, but this is To Catch a Predator scheme they run). She got her apps mixed up. So he thought he was just meeting a normal, legal-aged woman
Akash immediately called the police once he realized what was going on -- he knew Vitaly, and had often seen predator catching videos in his Twitter and Instagram feed before.
The police showed up, arrested him, and asked Vitaly if they could pose for a picture with him.
Again, a free gift link to the story here:
nytimes.com/2026/06/10/t...
My previous reporting on predator catchers and cryptocasino gambling streamers (all free gift links):
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Video
When 'pedophile hunters' catch the wrong guy. My latest with the great @aric.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/t...
By the next day, everyone realized a mistake was made. The police told Akash and his father that he was innocent. Akash reached out to Vitaly, who would put out an apology for the stream. And Vitaly had gone viral -- for his mistake.
Aric Toler
Aric Toler
Aric Toler
Aric Toler
Aric Toler
Free gift link to the story:
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/t...
Akash's lawyers may take legal action if a settlement is not reached, he told us. Vitaly's lawyer said that “Vitaly categorically denies any allegations of illegality or intentional wrongdoing.”
