Incident Overview
A 35-year-old Mumbai-based doctor was allegedly cheated of nearly Rs 94 lakh after falling victim to a sextortion scam. The fraud involved blackmail over intimate photographs he shared with a woman he met online.
How the Scam Unfolded
The doctor met a woman online in February, who claimed to be Somya Awasthi, an MBBS student from Chandigarh. Over time, they exchanged phone numbers, became close, and shared intimate messages and photos. She repeatedly requested money for gifts and later flights, which he transferred without receiving any proof of purchases.
In May, she claimed hackers from Thailand had accessed their chats and photos, demanding 3.10 bitcoins (~Rs 2.5 crore) as ransom, threatening to leak the intimate material to his workplace and medical association. Fearing exposure, the doctor took multiple loans and transferred nearly Rs 94 lakh to accounts provided by her.
Discovery and Complaint
Upon investigation, the doctor found that the account was under the name Jasmeen Kaur, and the woman was not an MBBS student but had studied Arts. Realising he was scammed, he approached Mumbai Cyber Police, who registered an FIR against unidentified persons.
Police Action
Authorities confirmed they have technical leads and teams have been deployed to track and apprehend the accused.
Public Advisory
This case highlights the rising threat of online sextortion, urging vigilance on social media interactions and caution before sharing personal or intimate content.
