Bengaluru: A 21-year-old college student from east Bengaluru has approached the police after her private modelling photographs were allegedly uploaded on multiple adult websites and shared across social media platforms without her consent, triggering a disturbing case of cyber extortion and online harassment.
According to the complaint, the ordeal began on June 26 when one of her acquaintances informed her that several of her photographs had appeared on an adult website. She later discovered that nearly 50 images had been uploaded by an unidentified user. With the help of a friend, she immediately lodged a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Harassment escalated with blackmail
Two days later, the student received a WhatsApp message from an international number. The sender claimed to be a hacker and informed her that another album containing around 50 of her photographs had been uploaded on a different adult website and was “going viral”.
When she questioned the sender, the person allegedly offered to remove the images but demanded that she send more intimate photographs in return. The accused reportedly threatened to create and circulate fake nude images and videos using her face if she refused the demand.
Following police advice, the student stopped responding to the messages. However, the threats allegedly continued.
Photos later surfaced on social media
Later the same day, another acquaintance alerted her that some of her photographs had also appeared on Reddit. She found that several images from the same collection had been uploaded by another user, further increasing her distress.
The student told police that the photographs dated back to 2023 and 2024, when she was pursuing modelling opportunities during her first year of college. She had shared the images with modelling agents and agencies after uploading her profile on a talent-search platform, believing they would be used only for professional evaluation.
After leaving the modelling industry, she deleted her conversations and blocked many of the contacts. She has now submitted a list of the individuals and agencies with whom she had shared the photographs to aid the investigation.
Police register case
Police have registered a case under the Information Technology Act and launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the unauthorised circulation of the images. A senior police officer said the objectionable content has since been removed from the online platforms.
The case highlights the growing risks of digital exploitation and underscores the importance of safeguarding personal information shared online, even in professional settings.