Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 2: A 38-year-old employee of a private firm lost Rs 10,000 during a 10-minute online chat with a woman in a live sex chat room.

The accused, identified as Kajal, enticed the victim into stripping while engaging in the chat. She obtained all of the victim's contact details before abruptly ending the call.

After some time, she called him again and demanded money, threatening to upload his striptease video on Facebook and other social media platforms if he refused to pay. The victim was blackmailed for approximately 12 hours and coerced into sending money to an account provided by the accused. When the demand for money increased once again, he approached the Bellandur police in the Whitefield division and lodged a complaint against her.

The victim resides in a paying guest accommodation in Bellandur. The person who initiated the chat at 11 pm on Wednesday fell victim to the lure of the accused. Subsequently, the accused blackmailed him until 11 am the following day. The accused provided her WhatsApp number to the victim and asked him to participate in a video call. During the call, she undressed without the victim's knowledge and recorded the interaction. Reportedly, she sent the video recordings to his WhatsApp to further intimidate him.

The victim reportedly made two UPI transactions to another mobile number provided by the accused: Rs 2,000 in the first transaction and Rs 8,000 in the second. When the accused demanded an additional Rs 80,000, the victim refused to pay and approached the police.

Both mobile numbers belonging to the accused have been obtained. In such cases, the accused often acquire SIM cards illegally, making it difficult to trace their location. Authorities urge caution when engaging in conversations with strangers. The victim lodged the complaint on Thursday, according to an official.

A case has been registered against the unidentified woman under sections of extortion (IPC Section 384) and the Information Technology Act, 2000. "The modus operandi of the accused involves targeting victims who are subscribers of such websites or apps. Nude pictures are posted on the app to attract victims. Later, they gain their trust and extort money," said the official.