Kanpur: Cyber fraudsters allegedly blackmailed a woman through a digital arrest-style scam and forced her into flesh trade, extorting around Rs 15 lakh from her over the past two years in Kanpur, police said on Sunday.Based on the victim’s complaint, police registered a case against unidentified accused, including a woman, and launched an investigation. The victim told police that in 2023, she received messages from a fake Instagram ID, following which their interaction began. In 2024, another fake account contacted her, claiming to possess her private photographs and threatening to make them public unless she paid money.Initially, the accused demanded small amounts ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 300, which the victim paid out of fear. Over time, the accused demanded thousands of rupees every month. The accused allegedly asked her to transfer money to a bank account in the name of a woman .The victim further alleged that the accused used a fake ID to post the mobile numbers of her relatives, family members and teachers on online platforms and threatened to circulate her photos to all of them if she stopped paying. She also claimed the accused threatened to kill her younger brother.Fearing public shame, the woman said, she sold her gold ring, earrings and jhumkas and transferred Rs 45,000 to the specified account. When she exhausted all her resources, the accused allegedly forced her into prostitution to continue making payments.According to the victim, from 2024 till now she transferred approximately Rs 15 lakh to the fraudsters, partly from her own bank account and partly through internet cafes.Kalyanpur Inspector Santosh Singh said a case has been registered and investigations are underway based on the evidence provided by the victim.
