Sextortion/Video Call Blackmail
Pause, verify the request through an official channel and never act under pressure.
What is this fraud?
A victim is threatened that intimate, edited or secretly recorded images/video will be shared unless money is paid.
How does it happen?
A fake profile starts an intimate video call, records the screen or creates manipulated content, then threatens the victim and the victim’s contacts.
Warning signs
Stranger quickly requests private video; camera shows sexual content; demand to move platforms; immediate threats and repeated payment demands.
How to stay safe
Avoid intimate interaction with unknown profiles, restrict social-media visibility and never share sensitive images. Remember that paying rarely ends blackmail.
If you are a victim
Do not pay or negotiate. Preserve evidence, block/report the profile, secure accounts and report at cybercrime.gov.in or the nearest police station; seek trusted support.
Evidence to preserve
Keep transaction IDs or UTRs, bank messages, screenshots, chats, emails, phone numbers, profiles, URLs, app details, and the exact date and time. Preserve original files without editing or deleting them.
Official reporting
For financial cyber fraud, call 1930 immediately, notify your bank or payment provider, and file a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal ↗. General technical advisories are available from CERT-In ↗.