Type of cyber crime
Sextortion & blackmail
A video call or chat is recorded or faked, then used to demand money under threat of sending it to your contacts.
Most sextortion in India starts with a friend request or a WhatsApp video call from an attractive stranger. Within minutes the screen shows explicit content, the call is recorded or a deepfake is produced, and the demands begin, often with a fake "YouTube officer" or "cyber police" follow-up call offering to "delete the video" for a fee.
Paying never ends it. The only moves that work are to stop responding, preserve evidence, report, and tell someone you trust. Platforms remove such content quickly when reported correctly.
How it usually looks
- A WhatsApp video call from an unknown number; the screen shows a woman undressing; the call ends and a morphed screenshot arrives.
- A dating-app match moves to Telegram, exchanges intimate photos, then demands money.
- Threats arrive from a second number claiming to be "Cyber Crime Delhi" offering to stop the video for a fee.
Law that applies
| Provision | What it covers | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| BNS 2023 s.308 (extortion) | Threat to publish to obtain money | Up to 7 years and fine |
| IT Act 2000 s.67 / s.67A | Publishing or transmitting obscene / sexually explicit material | Up to 3 years; up to 5 years for s.67A |
| IT Act 2000 s.66E | Violation of privacy (capturing or publishing private images) | Up to 3 years and/or fine up to ₹2 lakh |
| BNS 2023 s.351 (criminal intimidation) | Threats to cause harm | Up to 2 years; up to 7 years for grave threats |
Sections are quoted for orientation; the police decide the final charge sheet. Verify text at indiacode.nic.in.
Where to report
- Do not pay and do not delete anything. Screenshot the profile, numbers, messages and payment demands.
- Report the account and the content on the platform (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X, Telegram) as sexual extortion.
- File on cybercrime.gov.in; use the women/children-specific section if applicable, which allows anonymous reporting.
- For intimate images already posted, use StopNCII to block re-uploads across major platforms.
How to prevent it
- Decline video calls from unknown numbers; cover the camera if you answer by mistake.
- Keep social profiles private and friend lists hidden; scammers use them for threats.
- Agree in advance with someone you trust that you will tell them if this happens.
Frequently asked questions
Will they really send the video to my contacts?
Sometimes they send it to a few to prove the threat; usually they move on when a victim stops responding, because their time is better spent on someone who pays. Reporting the profile gets it removed, which cuts off their access to your contacts.