Cyber-related crimes have reportedly been on the rise during the lockdown. In an interview, Women Safety Wing DIG Sumathi (IPS) has talked about how some female targets are trapped by cyber criminals.

"During the lockdown, old crimes have been committed in a new way. During normal times, the morphing of photos, etc. used to be commonplace. Of late, fraudsters are not assuming fake identities. They are approaching their prey with their real identity. They first learn about their potential prey's information by searching for online information (on social media, etc.). They then decide how to enter into a relationship with you," she begins saying.

"Recently, a middle-aged woman working in an MNC in Hyderabad got cheated because a fraudster learned that she has been looking for ways to shed down her weight. Her online history was clear about her desperation. He tried to capitalize on it by sending a simple WhatsApp message, saying that he is from the UK and that he is an expert at fitness. For a month, he sent her tips on weight reduction and what she can do. He won her confidence by chatting only about weight reduction," she adds.

"Finally, she started becoming closer and started sharing things about the differences between her and her husband. Eventually, he prepared a collage of photos of her in inappropriate poses, etc. He blackmailed her and demanded Rs 1 lakh. Her husband wouldn't believe her because she had shared intimate pics and videos with the fraudster," the IPS officer says.

"Since she works for an MNC, she could muster up the courage to come to the cybercrime department and ask us to help her. The victim's husband needed to be counseled about the ways of cybercriminals to impress upon him the fact that his wife has been trapped," Sumathi adds.