CYBER CROOKS ATTEMPTED EXTORTION BY INSTILLING FEAR OF A POCSO CASE

CYBER CROOKS ATTEMPTED EXTORTION BY INSTILLING FEAR OF A POCSO CASE

28-MAY-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR----------------------Cybercriminals in the district have heightened public anxiety by adopting a new modus operandi for fraud. These fraudsters are now attempting to extort money from people by exploiting their fear of legal repercussions and social disgrace. The latest incident comes from Dumraon, where a cybercriminal—posing as an official from the Patna High Court—called a young man and demanded money, threatening to implicate him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to reports, the young man received a call on his mobile phone from an unknown number. Speaking in an extremely authoritative tone, the caller claimed that the young man had accessed pornographic websites on his device and that images recorded via his mobile's front camera had already been transmitted to "headquarters."

Subsequently, the fraudster asserted that preparations were underway to initiate legal proceedings against the young man under the POCSO Act, warning that teams from the Buxar Police, the Women's Police Station, and the local police station would soon raid his home. The cybercriminal then demanded that the young man immediately transfer ₹6,300 via PhonePe in exchange for "settling" the matter. Although the young man was momentarily shaken, he exercised prudence; he refrained from sending the money and disconnected the call. Nevertheless, the fraudster continued to call repeatedly in an attempt to pressure him.

This is not the first such incident in the district. In recent times, numerous individuals have fallen victim to cyber fraud, with their WhatsApp accounts being hacked and their acquaintances subsequently solicited for money. Rahul Dhar Dubey (Executive Officer of Dumraon), Anurag Mishra (Principal of Raj High School), and several others have already fallen victim to such cyber scams. Meanwhile, fraudsters extorted ₹38,000 through the WhatsApp account of Seema Ojha, the Principal of a Plus Two High School. The continuous rise in cybercrimes has also raised questions regarding the functioning of the police force. Victims allege that the entire process—from filing an FIR at the Cyber ​​Police Station to the subsequent investigation—is extremely sluggish. Consequently, people are feeling increasingly insecure. Experts advise against trusting any unknown calls, links, or threatening messages, and urge individuals to immediately contact the police or a cyber helpline in such instances.