Mumbai: A college student from Mumbai's Bhandup area was duped of ₹2.74 lakh after he clicked on an obscene content link on Instagram and fell prey to an elaborate sextortion scam.
The student was first lured with promises of nude videos and video calls, and later threatened by a person impersonating a UP Police officer who claimed a sexual harassment case had been filed against him. The victim has lodged a complaint at the Bhandup police station, and a probe is underway.
According to police sources, the incident began on April 10, 2025, when the student received a WhatsApp link through Instagram, promoting nude photos, videos, and adult video calls. When he clicked on it, he was contacted by a woman identifying herself as "Roshni Kumari" who sent him a QR code and asked for an initial payment of ₹100. Shortly after, she demanded ₹2,000 more to access full services, which the student paid.
The demands didn't stop there. Under various pretexts like processing charges and taxes, an additional ₹4,999 was extracted. When the student refused to pay further, he was coaxed with promises of a refund upon final payment. Suspecting fraud, he blocked the number.
However, on April 18, he received a call from a different number. The caller introduced himself as "Ravindra Singh" from the Uttar Pradesh Police and claimed that a sexual harassment complaint had been filed against the student by the same girl.
Using the threat of legal action and arrest, the imposter coerced the student into paying ₹2.74 lakh in multiple transactions to "settle" the case. Realizing he had been duped, the student approached the Bhandup police, who have registered a case against an unidentified accused under relevant sections of the BNS and IT Act. Investigations are ongoing.
