After falling for a video call scam, a 72-year-old man in Bengaluru lost Rs 2.3 lakh ($2,739). The Times of India reports that the man, a doctor, got a call on July 27 from an unidentified woman. He started up a conversation with the woman instead of hanging up the phone. The doctor took part in the filthy conversations that followed. Later, the man cooperated with the woman's request to remove his clothes for a video. The call was abruptly turned off.
The following day, the nightmare started. A caller posing as a police officer was placed next to him. He informed him that his explicit videos were out online and that he should go to the police station. And he said he would have them removed. Next, a guy posing as an employee of YouTube called the senior doctor again. For the videos to be deleted, the man demanded Rs 41,500. Even after the doctor transferred the funds, the calls continued. To several such men, he lost an additional Rs 2.3 lakh.
The individual continued to pay the money because he was ignorant of the scam. However, he called the police a few days later. He questioned the cops how these frauds operate without disclosing what had happened or that he had stripped on camera. He later complained to the cyber police, and the perpetrators were sought out.
Cyber scams involving video calls:
Individuals of all ages are reporting similar cybercrimes. Authorities have issued warnings about accepting calls from unknown numbers and avoiding making video calls with them.
According to a police cybercrime advice, "the unknown accused remains invisible or his fake profile photo will be visible" throughout these video calls.
"If such call is attended, the unknown caller captures a Screen Recording or Screenshot photo.”
The man from Bengaluru, in this instance, stripped live on camera. But according to the authorities, "the unknown caller" also "morphed the video or photo captured as pornographic videos and started sextortion or extorting money".
They put pressure on the subject by threatening to share the video with the victim's friends and family on social media. "Hence, it was advised not to chat with unknown persons believing that their fake profile IDs are real."
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)