Man loses Rs 26K after sharing info on dating app

The dream of finding love through that irresistible dating app could turn out to be a nightmare, as a 28-year-old Bengalurean recently found out. 

Ketak Srivastava, a resident of Begur Koppa, wasn’t bothered in the least bit when he downloaded the dating app on his mobile phone sometime ago. His joy knew no bounds when he got in touch with an escort girl, who goes by the username, Zarin876. 

The two hit it off right away and started talking over the phone. Srivastava shared his personal information, photographs and videos. He, however, sensed something amiss soon and deleted the app. But that didn’t mean his troubles were over. 

The escort girl soon started calling and blackmailing Srivastava. She threatened to publish all his personal details, pictures and videos online if he failed to give her money. Srivastava paid her Rs 26,000, but she demanded more. Finding no way out, he approached the cybercrime police and filed a complaint.

In a similar incident, an 18-year-old college girl was duped by a conman, who promised her modelling assignments. 

The student, a resident of Thippasandra, had found the offer so tempting that she readily gave him her photographs and videos in different poses and from different angles. 

The man is now blackmailing her with these pictures and videos, and has even threatened to upload them online if she refused to give in. 

The cybercrime police have taken up both the cases and are trying to track down the accused through their respective IP address.