In today's digital age, it is essential to stay vigilant and protected from various online scams. One such alarming scam that has been on the rise is sextortion and nude call scams.
Recently, cyber expert and TV panelist Prashant Sahu shared some crucial safety tips to help individuals avoid falling victim to these scams.
Understanding the Sextortion Scam
According to cyber expert Prashant, in a video shared on Twitter, he highlighted the prevalence of a distressing technique used by cyber fraudsters known as 'sextortion' and nude call scams.
Prashant explained that these scammers employ popular communication platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to target their victims.
When reaching out to victims on WhatsApp, they typically begin with a friendly 'Hi' message, accompanied by enticing photographs of an attractive individual, and follow a similar pattern on Facebook.
Once the victim accepts their friend request on Facebook, scammers swiftly proceed to request the victim's phone number.
The scammer then engages in video calls and messages with the victim, during which they play a prerecorded video of a person in a compromising nude position.
Shockingly, the scammer captures the victim's screen recording without their knowledge and subsequently uses the recorded video as leverage for blackmail.
Why You Should Not Panic
Prashant also provided insights on how to protect oneself from falling victim to such scams.
He emphasised, "Victims should not panic, as it's important to remember that the scammers, who are predominantly male (around 90% of them), have created the video clips themselves. It is crucial to understand that very few girls are involved in this type of fraudulent activity, and even if they are, their participation is minimal. So, there's no need to worry excessively. It is worth noting that a significant number of scammers apprehended in these cases have been traced back to regions like Haryana, Mewat, and Bharatpur in Rajasthan."
Safety Measures
Later, Prashant reassured the victims and provided further guidance on dealing with such situations.
He explained, "There is no need for the victims to worry because these scammers are cyber fraudsters who thrive on deceit. If you find yourself facing these types of problems, never succumb to their demands for money. Additionally, if the scammer instructs you to share the video with your friends or make it go viral, do not comply.”
Firstly, they have no knowledge of your friend circle, and their goal is not to engage with just one victim. They repeat these tactics numerous times.
Moreover, sharing explicit content without verifying it through government identification is illegal in India. The scammers avoid leaving traces of their activities and are aware that such videos are banned.
If someone fears that the video might go viral, the scammer uses it as leverage to extort money.
“However, if the victim remains unfazed, the scammers tend to delete the videos. Therefore, it is important not to fear such scams. Remember, if you encounter attractive girls' photos on WhatsApp, Facebook, or any other social media platform, never accept their video call requests. Instead, report and block unknown individuals,” Prashant added.