Man uses fake female profiles to get men's nude photos, blackmails them; arrested

A 23-year-old man has been arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly extorting money from people by creating fake social media profiles in women’s names, engaging them in explicit conversations and blackmailing them with their private photographs and videos.The accused, identified as Kondabattula Pavan Kumar, allegedly extorted and cheated people of a total of Rs 25.16 lakh, police said on Monday.According to Charminar Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kiran Khare, the accused, a native of Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district, allegedly operated multiple fake accounts on Facebook and Instagram to lure unsuspecting individuals into online conversations.Police said Pavan sent friend and follow requests while posing as a woman and gradually developed relationships with his targets through sexual chats. He allegedly exchanged explicit photographs with them and persuaded them to share their private pictures and videos, which he subsequently stored on different mobile phones and social media accounts.According to a police release, the accused later introduced himself as the brother of the woman whose identity he had allegedly used. He then threatened the victims with the public release of their intimate material and warned that his supposed sister would file complaints against them. Using these threats, he allegedly extorted money from them.Police said the accused primarily used photographs of a woman from Kolkata and operated the fake profiles under the name “Chandana”.He allegedly contacted victims through phone calls, instant messaging applications and social media platforms, and also met some of them in person.OVER 1,000 PEOPLE CONTACTEDInvestigations revealed that Pavan had allegedly created 29 fake social media accounts, including 13 Instagram and 14 Facebook accounts, besides using two WhatsApp accounts and three bank accounts.Police suspect that he communicated with more than 1,000 people over the past three to four years, of whom 82 allegedly shared their nude photographs and videos.The accused allegedly extorted around Rs 18 lakh through blackmail. He also allegedly cheated a software employee of Rs 7.16 lakh by promising high returns on investments, taking the total amount involved to Rs 25.16 lakh.Those affected reportedly included doctors, businessmen, lecturers, private-sector employees, delivery workers and gig workers.Police identified 24 victims from other states and nine from foreign countries. The accused allegedly targeted people in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab, and attempted to extort individuals in Dubai, Turkey, Pakistan and Canada.Even a friend of the accused was allegedly cheated of Rs 4 lakh, police said.ELECTRONIC DEVICES SEIZEDDuring the investigation, Saidabad police seized three mobile phones, an HP laptop and a pen drive.A case was registered at Saidabad Police Station under Crime No. 358/2026 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.Police suspect that additional victims may come forward as the investigation progresses.Further inquiry is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged operation and identify others who may have been targeted by the accused.- Ends