A 23-year-old software engineer from Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, has become the latest victim of a chilling online sextortion scam. Over two days, he was coerced into transferring ₹2.6 lakh after being threatened with exposure of morphed intimate footage. The incident has brought renewed focus to how fraudsters exploit trust and privacy in the digital age.
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How the Scam Played Out
In the early hours of October 5, the engineer received a WhatsApp video call from a woman claiming to be “Nistha Jain.” The call, lasting only 15 seconds, turned explicit. Moments later, a voice from the same number informed him that the video was morphed to show his face combined with the woman’s. The blackmailer threatened to circulate the clip among his contacts unless he paid up. Fearing social embarrassment, he complied—making multiple payments totaling ₹2.6 lakh over two days. When demands escalated further, he approached the Cyberabad cyber crime police with a complaint.
Legal Action & Digital Trace
Authorities have registered charges under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 308(2) (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 66D of the IT Act for cheating via communication. Investigators are now attempting to trace the WhatsApp calls, bank transfers, and accounts used by the perpetrators, who often operate across states or employ mule accounts to hide their tracks. A senior cyber official warned the public not to answer video calls from unknown numbers and to be cautious about saving or sharing sensitive media.
This case is yet another reminder of the vulnerability of individuals to psychological and reputational attacks in cyber space—and the growing sophistication of fraudsters in combining technology with manipulation.
