Hyderabad: A Gowliguda resident lost Rs. 3,41,950 in a sextortion video call scam after fraudsters trapped him through blackmail and forced multiple online payments, police said.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on October 5, 2025, around 1.30 pm. The victim first received a call from an unknown woman who identified herself as Jyothi Gupta and attempted to seduce him during the conversation.
Soon after, another person contacted the victim through a video call. He introduced himself as Vikram Goswami and appeared in a uniform. The caller threatened to circulate the recorded video on social media and warned of reputational damage.
Out of fear, the victim transferred money on several occasions through Google Pay. He sent the payments to a person identified as Manjeet Singh after the accused assured him that they would close the issue and refund the amount.
Police said the accused later hacked the victim’s bank accounts, which led to further financial losses. The fraudsters also intimidated him by falsely claiming that the woman involved had died. They demanded more money to avoid legal consequences. Due to fear, social stigma and helplessness, the victim suffered a total loss of Rs. 3,41,950.
Sextortion video call scam leads to cyber police warning
Cybercrime officials said criminals rely on fear and urgency to execute a sextortion video call scam. They warned the public not to accept video calls from unknown numbers, especially those involving indecent content, as fraudsters often record such calls for blackmail.
Police clarified that law enforcement agencies never demand money over phone or video calls to close cases or stop videos from circulating. They also cautioned citizens against sharing OTPs, bank details, screen access or clicking suspicious links, as these actions can result in bank account hacking.
Officials advised victims to immediately disconnect and block threatening callers. They also urged people to preserve evidence such as call logs, screenshots, payment details and bank statements.
Cybercrime victims can report incidents through the 1930 helpline or the cybercrime portal. In emergencies, they can also call or WhatsApp 8712665171, police added.
