Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 29: A 23-year-old bank employee from Andheri fell victim to a cyber fraud scam, losing Rs 3.6 lac to a fraudster who posed as his female office colleague and later blackmailed him with a morphed nude image, police said on Wednesday.

According to the Oshiwara police, the incident took place on October 3, when the complainant received a WhatsApp video call from a woman identifying herself as Neha, a colleague working at the Delhi branch of his bank.

The caller’s camera was turned off, and when the complainant asked why, she claimed she was outside. She then told him that her mother was ill and urgently needed Rs 25,000 for treatment, which the complainant immediately transferred.

The next morning, he received a WhatsApp message from the same number containing a morphed nude image of himself, followed by threats that the image would be circulated on social media unless he paid more money. Fearing embarrassment, he transferred a total of Rs 3.63 lac to the fraudster.

Even after making the payments, the threats continued. Running out of money, the victim confided in his parents, who urged him to approach the police.

The Oshiwara police have registered a case of cheating and extortion under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, and an investigation is underway to trace the accused.

Police have urged citizens not to share personal information or transfer money based on unverified digital communications and to report such incidents immediately to the cybercrime helpline 1930.