Budding cricketer falls prey to sextortion racket in Bengaluru

Maharashtra: A 20-year-old aspiring cricketer from Maharashtra, participating in a BCCI tournament in Bengaluru, has fallen victim to a cyber sextortion racket after a woman allegedly recorded an intimate WhatsApp video call without his knowledge and used it to blackmail him for money, police said.

Dating app contact led to cyber trap

According to the police complaint, the young cricketer was staying at a five-star hotel in north Bengaluru during the tournament when he received a message on a dating app from a woman identifying herself as “Rashika” on the night of July 17. After exchanging a few messages, she allegedly persuaded him to continue the conversation on WhatsApp.

During a subsequent WhatsApp video call, the woman allegedly behaved provocatively, prompting the cricketer to undress. The call ended abruptly after a few minutes.

Video used for extortion

When the cricketer contacted the woman again, she allegedly told him that the entire video call had been secretly recorded and threatened to circulate it on social media unless he paid her money.

Fearing public embarrassment, the player transferred ₹1,500. However, the demands continued, with the accused allegedly seeking more money while repeatedly threatening to release the video online. Realising he had been targeted in a sextortion scam, the cricketer confided in his friends before approaching the police.

Police issue cyber safety advisory

Police have registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for publishing obscene material electronically, extortion and cheating. The accused remains at large.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime-2) Raja Imam Kasim P urged the public not to accept video calls from strangers or give in to blackmail demands. He advised victims to immediately report such incidents to the police and use platforms such as StopNCII.org if intimate images or videos are shared online. Police also noted that the BCCI had recently cautioned players about honeytrap and sextortion attempts.