Mangaluru: A 19-year-old youth was allegedly cheated and extorted of ₹5,24,712 by a person he befriended on Instagram, who later threatened to circulate a morphed obscene photograph of him among his social media followers.

A complaint in this connection has been filed at the CEN Police Station in Mangaluru. According to the complaint, the youth came in contact with a person using the name “Jam Shed” on Instagram.

The person allegedly shared a mobile number in the comments section and asked the youth to continue their conversation through WhatsApp.

Contact shifts from Instagram to WhatsApp

According to the complaint, the youth began communicating with the person on WhatsApp on June 19.

The accused allegedly initially demanded ₹300 from the youth. After repeatedly calling and pressuring him, the person allegedly persuaded him to transfer the money through UPI using a scanner provided to him.

The initial payment was reportedly followed by further demands for money.

The accused allegedly contacted the youth through different WhatsApp numbers and continued demanding payments. The complainant reportedly refused to make further payments at one stage.

Morphed photograph allegedly used as threat

After the youth refused to pay, the accused allegedly sent him a morphed photograph combining his image with an obscene picture.

The accused allegedly threatened to circulate the morphed photograph among the youth’s Instagram followers if he did not make further payments.

Fearing that the photograph would be shared on social media, the youth allegedly continued transferring money to the accused.

The complainant has alleged that the threat was used to pressure him into making repeated payments over several weeks.

₹5.24 lakh transferred in multiple instalments

According to the complaint, the youth transferred money in multiple instalments between June 19 and July 23.

The payments were reportedly made through UPI to different scanners provided by the accused. The total amount allegedly transferred by the youth was ₹5,24,712.

The sequence of payments allegedly continued as the accused made further demands and threatened to circulate the morphed image.

The complaint states that the youth was ultimately subjected to financial loss after being allegedly deceived through the online contact and threatened with the circulation of the morphed photograph.

CEN Police receive complaint

The youth has approached the CEN Police Station seeking legal action against those allegedly involved in the incident.

In his complaint, he has urged the police to investigate the threats involving the alleged circulation of the morphed obscene photograph and the alleged fraudulent collection of money.

The police will examine the complaint, payment transactions, WhatsApp numbers, Instagram account details and other available digital evidence as part of the investigation.

The identity of the person or persons behind the Instagram account and the different WhatsApp numbers will have to be established during the investigation.

Warning over social media-based extortion

The incident highlights the risks associated with accepting contact requests from unknown people on social media platforms and subsequently sharing personal information or photographs.

In cases involving threats to circulate morphed or intimate images, victims can approach the police and cybercrime authorities rather than continuing to make payments to the alleged extortionist.

Digital payment records, screenshots, phone numbers, social media account details and chat records can also serve as potentially relevant evidence during an investigation.

The Mangaluru CEN Police are expected to examine the allegations and the digital and financial trail associated with the reported transactions. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.