Sextortion scams surge in J&K, police sound high alert

With a sharp spike in sextortion cases sending shockwaves across the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have sounded a high alert, warning people against falling prey to cyber predators who trap victims through fake social media profiles and video calls and then blackmail them for money.

In a strongly worded advisory issued through its official social media handles, the police said unsuspecting users are being targeted through friend requests and video calls from unknown individuals, after which their private moments are secretly recorded and used as tools of blackmail.

"Victims are threatened that their videos will be made viral on social media unless they pay money. This cybercrime is known as sextortion and is spreading fast," the police said, urging citizens to remain extremely cautious while interacting with strangers online.

According to cyber experts, the scam often begins with casual chatting, followed by video calls during which explicit content is recorded without the victim's knowledge. Soon after, the victim starts receiving threatening messages demanding immediate payment, failing which the footage is circulated among friends and relatives or uploaded online.

Police said many victims hesitate to report such incidents due to fear of social stigma, which further emboldens cybercriminals. "Silence only strengthens the blackmailers. People must not panic or pay money, but report the matter immediately," the advisory stressed.

The J&K Police have appealed to people, especially the youth, to avoid accepting friend requests from unknown profiles, refrain from sharing personal information or engaging in private video calls with strangers, and strengthen privacy settings on social media platforms.

In its advisory, police have suggested that citizens who fall victim to sextortion should immediately approach the nearest police station or cybercrime unit, preserve all digital evidence, including chats, call logs, and screenshots, and lodge a formal complaint without delay.

Police, through social media posts, warned that failure to act promptly could lead to further exploitation and psychological trauma, as scammers often continue demanding money even after receiving initial payments.

With online crimes rising at an alarming pace, the police have reiterated that cyber safety is a shared responsibility and urged the public to remain vigilant, alert, and informed to avoid becoming the next target of digital blackmail.

Sextortion becomes a weapon for cyber fraudsters

In the era of digitalisation, sextortion has become a major weapon for cyber fraudsters. The fraudsters often target middle-aged men using fake social media accounts posing as women. According to police, these profiles initially appear harmless, but victims soon find themselves trapped, as the fraudsters begin with friendly conversations and then resort to blackmail.

As per police records, most cases of online fraud registered are either related to sextortion or so-called digital arrest scams. Police officials stated that organised gangs are operating such accounts and have ruined many lives.

Fraudsters typically befriend victims on social media or dating apps using fake profiles, often of women. They lure victims into sharing explicit content or engaging in compromising video calls, which are then secretly recorded or morphed using AI.

The perpetrators then threaten to release the content to the victim's friends and family unless a ransom is paid, often in cryptocurrency.

The actual number of cases is believed to be far higher than reported, as many victims are deterred from approaching the police due to fear of social embarrassment and stigma.