Sextortion, a heinous cybercrime, has reared its ugly head in the state, particularly preying on vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, retirees, and employed individuals. Last year alone, scammers managed to extort a staggering amount of approximately Rs 1.5 crore from unsuspecting victims. The majority of these victims happen to be men who fall prey to the deceptive tactics employed by criminals through social media platforms or through audio and video calls.
The modus operandi typically involves fraudsters gaining the trust of their victims by posing as friendly individuals. Subsequently, they go on to record audio or video interactions with the victims, which are then utilized as blackmail material. The scammers threaten to leak this incriminating footage on public forums or share it with the victim’s family members if their demands for money are not met.
Drawing attention to this alarming trend, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of State CID Cybercrime, Mohit Chawla, spoke about the heightened vulnerability of retirees in these situations. “Retired individuals are often targeted due to their increased online presence. They are easy targets for scammers who exploit their proclivity for social media usage. Additionally, scammers keep a close eye on their activities, such as vacation or party photos, to gauge their financial standing,” explained Chawla.
Once the victims are identified, they are coerced into paying up to avert potential public shame. “Many victims acquiesce to the demands out of sheer fear of humiliation,” added Chawla, painting a grim picture of the psychological manipulation at play.
To combat the rising tide of such cybercrimes, DIG Chawla urged users to exercise caution by refraining from clicking on unknown links, answering calls, or engaging with messages from unfamiliar sources. He stressed the importance of safeguarding personal information on social media platforms and recommended tightening the privacy settings to limit exposure to potential threats.
In cases of sextortion or any other cybercrime, individuals are strongly encouraged to promptly report such incidents by reaching out to the toll-free helpline number 1930. The proliferation of social media channels and advancements in technology have paved the way for a surge in cybercrime incidents, posing a grave risk to the residents of the state. With the state cyber cell receiving an average of 350 complaints related to various cybercrimes each month, there is an urgent need for heightened awareness and vigilance among the populace.