Lucknow Woman Trapped in Online Friendship, Blackmailed With Obscene Videos After Refusing ₹50,000 Demand

A married woman from Lucknow’s PGI police station area has approached the police after falling victim to emotional exploitation and blackmail by a man she befriended on Instagram. According to her complaint, the man recorded her private video calls and later made them viral when she refused to pay him ₹50,000.

Troubled Marriage Pushed Her Into Online Friendship

The victim, who lives with her husband in Lucknow, told the police that her marriage had been turbulent, as her husband often beat her. Feeling lonely and distressed, she connected with a young man through Instagram. Their online friendship quickly grew as she began sharing details of her marital problems with him.

“He listened to me patiently when I was going through pain. I started trusting him and shared everything about my husband’s behavior,” the woman said in her statement.

Video Calls Turned Into Exploitation

The man, after gaining her trust, persuaded her to give him her phone number. He began calling her daily, and eventually started insisting on late-night video calls when her husband was asleep. During these private conversations, the accused secretly recorded obscene videos of the woman.

According to the complaint, the man promised to marry her and continued to manipulate her emotions. Believing him, the woman complied with his demands, unaware that he was planning to exploit her.

Blackmail and Extortion Demand

The situation escalated when the man suddenly demanded ₹50,000 from the victim. He threatened to release her videos online if she refused. Despite pleading with him that she did not have the money, the accused went ahead and leaked the videos.

“I had fulfilled many of his demands, but when I could not pay him ₹50,000, he made my video viral. I only want justice now,” the woman told the police.

Police Complaint and Investigation

Shattered by the betrayal and public humiliation, the woman approached the PGI police station and registered a case. An FIR has been lodged, and the police have started investigating the matter. Officials confirmed that cyber experts are being consulted to track the accused and gather digital evidence.

Growing Cases of Online Exploitation

This incident highlights a worrying trend of cyber exploitation through social media platforms. In many cases, women facing personal struggles become easy targets for predators who use fake identities, emotional manipulation, and later blackmail through obscene videos.

Cybercrime officials have repeatedly urged social media users to exercise caution while interacting with strangers online. They also recommend avoiding video calls and sharing personal details with unknown individuals.

What Experts Say

Counselors note that people going through abusive or troubled relationships often seek emotional comfort online, where they may end up trusting the wrong individuals. “Such cases show how emotional vulnerability can be exploited. Victims should immediately report threats instead of giving in to demands,” said a senior psychologist in Lucknow.