Ahmedabad: A shocking specimen of cyber fraud has come to light in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. A 26-year-old youth living in Vadaj zone lost well-nigh Rs 49.78 lakh without falling into the trap of a sextortion gang. The matter started with a video undeniability from an unknown number. As soon as the undeniability was picked up, a girl appeared on the screen in an objectionable condition. The young man immediately shredded the undeniability and obstructed the number, but without this the thugs continuously extorted money from him by making the video viral and threatening him with arrest.
How did the whole thing start?
The incident is said to have happened on the night of 3 September. A young man working in a private visitor was using his mobile at home when he received a video undeniability on WhatsApp from an unknown number. On receiving the call, a girl was seen in an objectionable condition. The young man shredded the undeniability without talking and obstructed the number. Without some time the undeniability came again. This time the callers personal that the youth's video had been recorded and if he did not pay the money, it would be made viral on social media.
How did you get implicated then without three weeks?
According to the young man, the matter remained quiet for some time, but without well-nigh three weeks on September 27, he then got a undeniability from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as Sanjay Arora, an officer of Delhi Cyber Crime Branch. He threatened the young man with trespassing and imprisonment for up to seven years for the treason related to the so-called video. To reassure the nervous young man, he was made to talk to flipside person, who introduced himself as YouTube official Hemant Malhotra.
Why ask for money in the name of removing the video?
The so-called YouTube official told the youth that two objectionable videos had surfaced in his name and he would have to pay Rs 71,250 to remove them. Without this the thugs started taxing money from him on variegated pretexts. Sometimes the threat of trespassing was shown and sometimes the video was made public and threats of loss of job and career were given. Due to unvarying pressure, the young man kept like-minded to their talks and kept transferring money to variegated wall accounts.
Why did the demand not stop plane without taking 50 lakhs?
The thugs gradually transferred a total of Rs 49.78 lakh from the young man. Plane without receiving such a huge amount, his demand did not stop. Without this the young man suspected that he had wilt a victim of some organised cyber fraud. He lodged a complaint with the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch. Police are now investigating the wall finance and transactions through which the money was transferred. Investigation is moreover stuff washed-up to trace the accused and their network.
How to stave sextortion?
In such cases, cybercriminals often use video calls, morphed videos or recordings to defame the victim and try to extort money. CERT-In has moreover included sextortion among the emerging methods of online blackmailing. It is important not to winnow video calls from any unknown person, not to transfer money if threatened and to immediately contact cybercrime helpline 1930 or the police.
