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Social Media Scammer Dupes Victims of ₹40 Lakh
19 Oct
Summary
- A 24-year-old man extorted ₹40 lakh using fake social media profiles.
- He threatened victims with nude photos and videos to extort money.
- Victims included people from five Indian states and four foreign countries.
A 24-year-old man, Kondabhattula Pavan Kumar, was arrested in Saidabad, Hyderabad, for allegedly extorting around ₹40 lakh using fake social media profiles. Posing as a woman named Chandana, he operated 13 fake Instagram accounts and 14 Facebook profiles, using photographs of a woman from Kolkata. Police stated he chatted with over 1,000 people, with 82 victims allegedly sharing intimate content.
Pavan Kumar would steer conversations towards sexual exchanges, then threaten victims by posing as the woman's brother. He blackmailed them with intimate photographs and videos, demanding money. In addition to extortion, he allegedly defrauded others of ₹7.16 lakh by promising false investment returns, bringing the total to ₹25.16 lakh.
His victims included professionals from five Indian states and nine individuals from countries like UAE, Turkey, Pakistan, and Canada. Notably, one victim was a friend from whom Pavan allegedly extorted ₹4 lakh. The accused had previously worked at a digital lending company and a chit fund company.
