Indian Woman Falls Prey to Cyber Blackmail, Extorted of Lakhs, Forced into Prostitution: Police Complaint Filed

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Woman from Kalyanpur Files Complaint Against Cyber Blackmailers

A woman from Kalyanpur has filed a complaint alleging that she was extorted of nearly ₹15 lakh by cyber blackmailers, who coerced her into prostitution after her funds were depleted.

The Ordeal Began with Fake Instagram Messages

The victim claims that the ordeal began three years ago when she received messages from a fake Instagram account. The perpetrators gradually gained her trust through prolonged conversations, only to later claim possession of her private photographs and demand money in exchange for not making them public.

Extortion Demands Escalated Over Time

The initial demands were relatively small, ranging from ₹100 to ₹300, but eventually escalated to thousands of rupees per month. The victim resorted to selling family jewellery to meet the demands, but when she exhausted her financial resources, the blackmailers allegedly forced her into sex work, collecting her earnings to continue the extortion.

Investigation Underway

The extorted funds were transferred to a bank account in the name of a woman identified as Shraddha Katiyar. Investigators are currently examining bank transactions, mobile numbers, and social media profiles, with the assistance of the cyber cell. The police are investigating all angles, including the possibility of an organized cyber extortion network and whether other victims were targeted.

Separate Incident: Elderly Man Loses ₹3.05 Lakh in 62 Transactions

In a separate incident, an elderly man from the Nazirabad area lost ₹3.05 lakh from his bank account through 62 transactions, despite not sharing any one-time passwords (OTPs) or sensitive information.

Cyber experts have cautioned users against sharing personal information or private images with unknown individuals on social media and advised them to report any blackmail attempts immediately to the police or the cyber helpline (1930).

Investigation Ongoing

The investigation is ongoing to determine the scope of the network and identify additional victims. In the meantime, authorities are urging users to exercise caution when interacting with unknown individuals online and to report any suspicious activities promptly.