An online safety story features a 30-year-old Bengaluru resident who is a tech enthusiast who got himself into a sticky scenario thanks to a well-known dating app. In an effort to meet new people, he found himself in a dreadful predicament that resulted in a significant loss. He fell prey to "sextortion," a form of internet blackmail and manipulation where people are tricked.
The tech-savvy man was intrigued by the intriguing things he heard about the dating app, according to a New Indian Express report. He believed he might make genuine friends and ties there. But he wasn't prepared for the horrific turn that events took. He came across Nikita, a lady, and Aravind Shukla, a man.
Their strategy developed swiftly. On August 16, Nikita—a 25-year-old—began speaking with him. She quickly learned his phone number and social media accounts. They started using a messaging app for video talks. But these discussions quickly turned odd and unsettling. He was duped by Nikita into saying and doing things on video that he didn't want to. He was unaware that she was recording everything.
Then, things deteriorated further. If he didn't give her money, Nikita threatened to post the embarrassing recordings on social media and share them with all of his friends. She took advantage of his nervousness to force him to send money to the several bank accounts she gave him.
The victim, who was distressed and broke, bravely made touch with the police in Bengaluru's Whitefield district. He informed someone of what had transpired. He had lost a significant amount of money—roughly Rs 2.6 lakh—all because he had relied on the wrong online sources.
The cops are currently investigating. The Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) Cyber Crime Division is putting a lot of effort into finding a solution. They are attempting to track down the culprits and determine where the money went. Additionally, they advise everyone to exercise caution while communicating with strangers online, particularly on social media and dating applications. What initially appears innocent might swiftly turn into a deadly trap.
