Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a sextortion racket, arresting the mastermind behind the honeytrap scheme that blackmailed victims through compromising video calls.
Key Points
- Delhi Police busted a sextortion racket involving honey-trapping victims through obscene video calls.
- The alleged mastermind, Arman, was arrested in Rajasthan for his involvement in the sextortion scheme.
- Victims were blackmailed with recorded private moments and threatened with social media exposure if they didn't pay.
- Police recovered multiple obscene videos and SIM cards from the accused, indicating a widespread operation.
- The accused used fake identities and targeted individuals on social media and dating apps for sextortion.
The Delhi Police has busted a 'sextortion' racket that allegedly honey-trapped victims through video calls before coercing them for money, officials said on Saturday.
The suspected mastermind behind the honeytrap operations, identified as Arman (23), was arrested from Ladamka village in Rajasthan's Deeg district, they said.
How The Sextortion Racket Operated
Police said a man lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal alleging he was blackmailed after being trapped through an obscene video call.
The complainant claimed he received a video call from an unknown number in which a pre-recorded obscene video featuring a woman was being played.
The victim was manipulated into removing his clothes during the interaction, and the culprits allegedly recorded his private moments.
The accused later sent the recorded clip to the complainant and allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh, threatening to circulate the video on social media platforms if the money was not paid. "The victim initially transferred some amount out of fear, but approached police after repeated extortion demands," the officer said.
Investigation And Arrest
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered on May 13. During investigation, police analysed the money trail which was traced to Rajasthan's Mewat region.
Subsequently raids based on technical surveillance led to the arrest of Arman.
"Two mobile phones and 11 SIM cards were recovered from his possession. During examination of the devices, police found nearly 150 obscene videos, including around 50 involving different victims," he said.
Accused Used Fake Identities
Police said one mobile phone was allegedly used to make video calls and chat with victims, while the second device was used to play pre-recorded obscene videos during calls.
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he used fake identities and randomly picked mobile numbers from social media and dating applications to target people. He allegedly lured victims into intimate conversations and later extorted money by threatening to upload their private videos online.
Police said efforts are underway to trace other members involved in the racket.
