Two Cybercrime Cases in Mumbai: Minor Girl and College Student Targeted Online

Two separate cybercrime cases have been reported in Mumbai, showing how criminals are misusing social media to trap and exploit innocent people.

Case 1: 11-Year-Old Girl Tricked on Snapchat

In the first incident, an 11-year-old girl from Kanjurmarg was targeted through a fake Snapchat account. The accused created a profile under the name “Saanvi Rao” and pretended to be a young girl. After gaining the child’s trust, the person convinced her to send inappropriate photos. These photos were later used to blackmail her for more content.

The girl eventually told her parents, who reported the matter to Kanjurmarg police. A police officer said, “Our investigation shows the fake account was run by a man pretending to be a teenage girl.” A case has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act.

Case 2: College Student Cheated of Rs 2.74 Lakh

In the second case, a college student from Bhandup was scammed after clicking on a link on Instagram that promised adult content for Rs 2,000. The link took him to a WhatsApp number, where he was asked to pay small amounts at first. After sending Rs 4,999, the student got a call from someone claiming to be a police officer named “Ravindra Singh” from Uttar Pradesh.

The fake officer accused him of harassment and threatened legal action unless he paid more money. Scared, the student transferred a total of Rs 2.74 lakh before realizing it was a fraud.

Police Investigating Both Cases

A senior officer said, “Both cases show how cybercriminals are using fake profiles and fear tactics to trap victims.” Investigations are ongoing, and police teams in Kanjurmarg and Bhandup are working to find the suspects.

Stay Alert Online:

• Don’t trust unknown profiles or links.

• Report suspicious activity to the police.

• Always talk to a trusted adult if something feels wrong online.