What begins as a simple friend request on social media is escalating into a nationwide extortion racket targeting Indian women. Scammers are creating elaborate fake identities to befriend women, gain their trust, and then blackmail them for money using threats and impersonation of government officials.
The Chhath Puja Trap: A Story of Deception
During the recent Chhath Puja festivities in a small Uttar Pradesh town, a woman we'll call Naina received a message that would plunge her into a 10-day nightmare. An Instagram user identifying himself as 'Dr Khan' sent her a friendship request. His profile appeared professional and his story was compelling: a Pakistani-origin doctor practicing in London after completing his MBBS in China.
For Naina, who had never traveled beyond her hometown, the connection offered a window to the world. Their conversations moved from Instagram to WhatsApp over three days. Dr Khan insisted on video calls, but there was always a 'network error' on his end that prevented Naina from ever seeing his face.
After five days of building rapport, the scam took an unexpected turn when Dr Khan suddenly proposed marriage. When Naina declined, citing she didn't even have a passport, he shifted tactics to sending gifts. Soon, her phone was flooded with videos showing him shopping for expensive items - an iPhone, jewellery, and sarees worth approximately one lakh rupees.
The Extortion Machinery Springs Into Action
Despite Naina's repeated refusals and her unwillingness to share her address, Dr Khan claimed he had shipped the gifts to India. The next morning, a new caller claiming to be from the 'Mumbai Airport office' demanded Rs 4,000 as a processing fee for the parcel.
When Naina refused, the threats escalated. The fake officials warned that the matter would be transferred to CBI officials since high-value international goods were booked in her name. Dr Khan then revealed his true colors - he threatened to release secretly recorded videos from their calls on every social media platform unless she paid.
Terrified and financially dependent on her joint family, Naina managed to borrow Rs 4,000 from friends. But the relief was short-lived. The very next day, the demands increased to Rs 12,000, with threats becoming more aggressive.
How the Scam Network Operates
Cybercrime analyst Ajay Singh explains the modus operandi to indianexpress.com. Scammers first send friend requests to women on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. After days of casual conversation, they pretend to have developed close friendship and often claim to be living abroad to appear trustworthy.
"Once they gain the victim's confidence, the scammer says, 'Our friendship has grown, so I want to send you a gift,'" Singh reveals. "After the victim shares her address, they send a fake parcel image, claiming that an expensive gift has been dispatched in her name."
The scam then follows a predictable pattern: Fake customs officers call demanding duty payments, the amount keeps increasing, and when victims resist, threats of police action or leaking compromised videos follow.
Protection Guidelines for Social Media Users
Cyber experts recommend several safety measures to avoid falling victim to such scams:
Avoid chatting with strangers on social media as many profiles are fake or stolen.
Never trust anyone who quickly offers expensive gifts or asks for your address.
Customs officers never call individuals to demand money and never visit homes to deliver parcels.
No legitimate courier or Customs department asks for money through UPI, bank transfer, or WhatsApp links.
Never share your home address, personal details, photos or videos with people you've only met online.
Foreign currency in parcels is illegal - a genuine sender would never do this.
If someone pressures, threatens, or blackmails you, consider it a clear sign of a scam.
If you fall victim, tell the closest person in your family and file a complaint against the scammers. Support helps break fear and shame.
Report suspicious profiles and numbers on cybercrime.gov.in or through the 1930 helpline.
The emotional toll on victims is severe. Naina confessed that suicidal thoughts crossed her mind during the tumultuous 10-day period. Like many victims, she hasn't filed an official police complaint due to fear of family judgment and social stigma for speaking to a stranger.
This case highlights a growing epidemic where scammers exploit loneliness and curiosity, turning digital friendships into financial and emotional nightmares. Awareness and prompt reporting remain the strongest defenses against such sophisticated online traps.
