Ajit (name changed), a 24-year-old Bengaluru-based software engineer, made the decision to try out online dating services in October 2021. Ajit started corresponding with Renu using a dating app. After texting back and forth for a few days, they swapped phone numbers.
“A WhatsApp video call came my way the day after we exchanged numbers. When I answered it, I was horrified to see a woman taking off her clothing on the other end. I ended the connection in a matter of seconds, but that was plenty for them since they manipulated it to make it appear as though I had participated in the act and had been on the video call for some time, Ajit remembered.
Such crimes are referred described as “sextortion.” Sextortion is defined as a crime in which a victim is blackmailed using private, and frequently altered, films or images.
Police from many states have noted yet another method of sextortion: the victim receives a video call from a stranger or a new acquaintance. The person on the other end of the line removes their garments as soon as the call is answered.
A screen capture of this call is then used to blackmail the caller by making it appear as though they were seeing the other person strip.
Ravi (name changed), a 53-year-old resident of Bengaluru, experienced the same thing after being subjected to blackmail by a saree dealer he met on Facebook. Ravi received a WhatsApp call from a naked woman who claimed to be showing him several sarees.
She then threatened to release the screen capture if Ravi didn’t send her Rs 8000. Although Ravi first sent Rs 6000, he eventually worked up the guts to lodge a complaint with the Halasuru Gate Cyber Crime Station in January 2022.
“There are several methods that scammers might obtain the phone numbers of their victims, including through restaurant records or third-party apps.
The victims frequently mistakenly give their phone numbers to scammers, according to R Srinivas Gowda, Bengaluru Central’s Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Numerous police officials TNM spoke to claimed that, because many victims do not report their experiences, the actual number of such frauds is significantly larger than the ones reported.
“They fear being shamed by their friends and family, are embarrassed, and feel terrified. They worry that rather than the con artist, they will bear the brunt of the penalties, according to Kumaraswamy, station house officer at Halasuru Gate Cyber Crime Station.
SHO Kumaraswamy continued, “Such instances are exceedingly difficult to solve. “The con artists are aware that if they stay in the state where they prey on their victims, they will be apprehended.
As a result, for instance, if scammers are in the north of India, they target individuals in the south, and vice versa, he said. The SHO added that it is challenging to track down the scammers’ whereabouts because they utilise several phones to call their victims repeatedly.
On the basis that the “police case” will be resolved, the man gave an extra Rs 1.70 lakh in multiple instalments to the “SP.” The SP then threatened to have the man fired if he didn’t give another Rs 1.2 lakhs.
The man received a call from a “police inspector” a short time after being informed that the issue had been resolved, informing him that Kavitha had passed away. He learned that Kavitha’s mother had documentation of his dealings with her.
He was instructed to give the mother another Rs 2 lakhs by the “inspector”. He sent Rs 27,000 in numerous instalments out of fear. When the man finally realised they would never stop, he filed a complaint.
On the basis that the “police case” will be resolved, the man gave an extra Rs 1.70 lakh in multiple instalments to the “SP.” The SP then threatened to have the man fired if he didn’t give another Rs 1.2 lakhs.
The man received a call from a “police inspector” a short time after being informed that the issue had been resolved, informing him that Kavitha had passed away. He learned that Kavitha’s mother had documentation of his dealings with her.
He was instructed to give the mother another Rs 2 lakhs by the “inspector”. He sent Rs 27,000 in numerous instalments out of fear. When the man finally realised they would never stop, he filed a complaint.
