Highlights:
1. A 30-year-old man in Bengaluru fell victim to an online fraud while searching for a partner on a dating app, resulting in a loss of 2.5 lakh rupees.
2. The man met two fraudsters named Nikita and Arvind Shukla through the app, who engaged in sextortion and blackmail.
3. Nikita obtained the man’s phone number and social media details, leading to a video chat where she coerced him into inappropriate actions.
4. When the man refused to give her money, Nikita threatened to share embarrassing videos on social media with all his friends.
5. The man reported the incident to the police, who are currently investigating the case and working to track down the culprits. The police advise caution while interacting with strangers on dating apps and social media platforms.
A 30-year-old youth residing in Bengaluru had a costly experience while searching for a partner on a dating app. He fell victim to an online fraud and lost 2.5 lakh rupees. In his hopes of making new friends, he found himself in a dreadful situation which caused him significant damage. According to a report by India Today, the young man became a victim of a type of online fraud called sextortion, where people are harassed and blackmailed.
According to the news, the tech-savvy youth, who had a particular interest in technology, became fascinated with the romantic aspects he heard about dating apps. He thought he could find genuine friends and contacts there. As per the report by the New Indian Express, during his search, he met a woman named Nikita and another person named Arvind Shukla. They noticed his vulnerability and took advantage of it.
Nikita, who was 25 years old, started talking to him on August 16. Within a short period, she obtained his phone number and social media details. They started video chatting on a messaging app, but the conversation took an unusual turn. Nikita pressured him to perform explicit acts on camera, which he did not want to do. Unbeknownst to him, she was recording everything.
When Nikita realized that he would not give her any money, she threatened to share the embarrassing video on social media and with all his friends. She also instructed him to transfer money to various bank accounts provided by her. Additionally, someone claiming to be a police officer from Uttar Pradesh started calling and threatening him, stating that he was Arvind Shukla.
Feeling distressed and financially burdened, the victim contacted the police in Whitefield, Bengaluru. He explained what had happened and revealed that he had lost nearly 2.6 lakh rupees due to trusting the wrong people online. The Cyber Crime Division of the Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the case diligently. They are trying to determine where the money went and apprehend those responsible. The police advise people, especially when talking to anonymous individuals on dating apps and social media, to remain cautious as such situations can lead to fraud and deception.
