Septuagenarian loses nearly ₹39 lakh in sextortion scam

A 70-year-old retired government employee from Hyderabad was duped of ₹39 lakh over a period of 15 months after falling prey to a sextortion scam.

What began as a seemingly innocent Facebook friend request in January 2024, spiralled into a complex web of emotional manipulation, financial exploitation and blackmail.

According to the victim’s complaint, he accepted a friend request from a young woman who claimed to be from a financially distressed background. She alleged that her father had abandoned the family, and her mother worked as a tailor. She shared the contact number of a local cable operator, requesting help for a wi-fi connection. The victim paid ₹10,000, after which the woman ceased contact.

The victim then contacted the cable operator who claimed that the girl had fallen seriously ill and needed intestinal surgery. Persuaded by his appeals, the victim transferred over ₹10 lakh in instalments for her supposed hospital bills and daily needs. He even couriered his Standard Chartered Bank credit card, from which ₹2.65 lakh was withdrawn. The man later told the victim he was travelling to Dubai and cut off all communication.

The scam, however, took a darker turn. Messages continued from the same number, with individuals now claiming to be the cable operator’s mother and sister. During chats, the victim was drawn into sexually explicit exchanges. He was then told that a complaint was being filed against him for inappropriate behaviour with a minor. A person claiming to be a police constable contacted him via Facebook, urging him to settle the matter privately.

Driven by fear, the victim continued to send money - ₹12.5 lakh allegedly for the girl’s education and to settle a loan, followed by another ₹10 lakh to avoid police action. Later, ₹1 lakh more was demanded by the same impersonated constable. The victim was further blackmailed by a new Facebook account, supposedly belonging to a newly-posted sub-inspector, who demanded ₹7.37 lakh to prevent action under the POCSO Act.

On the night of April 25, 2025, the victim received a video call from the “minor girl” but only he was visible on screen. The next day, he began receiving threats from a man claiming to represent the local police, demanding ₹6.5 lakh for the girl’s grandfather and ₹20 lakh for the sub-inspector. A new round of threats followed, with the same demand and a June 25 deadline was set.

In total, the victim has transferred ₹38,73,150 to the scammers.

Following an online complaint by the victim, the cybercrime wing of the Hyderabad police booked a case and initiated an investigation.

Police are currently verifying the complaint and suspect the involvement of an organised cyber fraud syndicate exploiting vulnerable individuals through emotional bait and impersonation of authority figures.

Published - June 19, 2025 12:33 am IST