Mumbai News: Merchant Navy Officer From Bandra Falls Victim To Sextortion After Refusing To Pay ₹30,000

Mumbai – A 23-year-old Merchant Navy officer from Bandra fell victim to a sextortion scam in which an obscene video of him was recorded and later circulated on Instagram after he refused to pay ₹30,000 in extortion. The Bandra Police have registered a case against unknown persons under relevant sections of the BNS and IT Act.

According to the complaint, the young officer received a friend request on WhatsApp from an unknown woman on Sunday afternoon. After chatting for a while, the woman gained his trust through sweet talk and attractive profile pictures shared on WhatsApp and Telegram. Convinced of her identity, the victim continued the conversation.

The next day, the woman initiated a video call and persuaded the young man to engage in sexually explicit behavior. She undressed during the call and compelled the victim to do the same. Unknown to him, the entire session was secretly recorded.

Shortly afterward, the victim received a call from another unknown number threatening to make the explicit video viral unless he paid ₹30,000. When he refused, the threats continued for two days. Finally, on Monday, the video was leaked and circulated via Instagram, prompting the victim to approach the police. Based on his complaint, the Bandra Police registered an FIR under Sections 67 and 67(A) of the Information Technology Act and launched an investigation.

What is Sextortion?
Sextortion is a form of sexual blackmail where victims are coerced into paying money under the threat of having their intimate videos or photos shared publicly. It often begins with a friend request from an unknown woman on social media, leading to personal chats, exchange of phone numbers, and eventually video calls. These calls are secretly recorded, and victims are later blackmailed. Despite paying, many continue to face ongoing threats and demands.

Police have urged citizens to remain cautious while interacting with unknown individuals on social media, especially when conversations take an intimate turn.