Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 3: In a shocking case of digital extortion and harassment, a 25-year-old woman from Kranti Nagar in Jogeshwari West, Mumbai, became a victim of a fraudulent loan app that not only threatened her but also circulated morphed nude images to her relatives and friends despite her repayment.

According to police, the woman was in urgent need of money when she came across an Instagram advertisement for an app named Cash Loan. On July 20, she downloaded the app and submitted her Aadhaar and bank details to apply for a loan of Rs 2,000. However, she received only Rs 1,300 for a six-day term.

Shockingly, before the repayment deadline, she began receiving threatening calls from a man claiming to be an employee of the loan app. He warned that obscene images of her would be shared online unless she returned the money immediately.

Gripped by fear, the woman transferred Rs 1,000 twice to a person named Sandesh Kumar through a payment app. But her horror escalated when her aunt informed her that a morphed nude photo had been sent to her via WhatsApp from an unknown number.

The same image was also forwarded to two of the woman’s friends.

Distressed and unsure of what to do, the woman approached her father, who then sought help from the police. The FIR notes that the accused continued threatening the woman, attempting to malign her reputation despite her partial repayment.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter. The incident once again raises concerns over the misuse of personal data by predatory digital lending apps and the lack of stringent oversight.

Investigators are now tracing the digital trail to identify the culprits and have urged citizens to stay cautious while dealing with unverified loan applications.