27-year-old loses ₹17 lakh in Instagram sextortion scam

A 27-year-old man from Palghar lost nearly ₹17 lakh within 10 days after falling victim to a sextortion scam that began with a message from an unknown woman on Instagram.

According to police, the victim works in a private company. On November 1, he received a message from a woman he did not know. After a short chat, she asked for his phone number and then immediately made a video call. During the call, she behaved in an obscene manner and disconnected within 45 seconds.

Soon after, she threatened to make the video viral on social media unless he paid her money. Scammers also sent clips to make the threat seem real. As the pressure mounted, a man pretending to be an Assistant Commissioner of Police contacted him, claiming a case would be registered against him if he didn’t pay. He also promised to “delete” the video after receiving the money.

Fearing defamation and legal trouble, the victim transferred money multiple times. Over ten days, he ended up losing about ₹17 lakh.

When the demands didn’t stop, the man finally gained the courage to approach the police and filed a complaint. Police have begun investigating the sextortion racket and have warned the public to be cautious of unknown contacts on social media.