Morphed obscene videos on WhatsApp in Kashmir: Cyber Police issues advisory

Srinagar: The cyber wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued an advisory in response to growing concerns in Kashmir due to the morphed obscene videos on WhatsApp, directing people not to engage in video calls with unknown users and not to get swayed by giving away demanded money.

The Cyber Police Kashmir has directed the affected people across the Valley to approach the nearest police station with a complaint or Cyber Police Station in Srinagar in case of any threat from any unknown users demeaning money against morphed pornographic videos.

People in the Valley have been advised not to succumb to panic in case any unknown WhatsApp or Facebook user threatens them or demands money, They should, however, report it with the police assuring them of full confidentiality.

In the advisory, Cyber Police said that “Accepting random friend request, video call on Facebook or WhatsApp from strangers can land you in trouble. Blackmailers have devised a modus operandi to befriend people online and later get their photos and videos through a video call and morph these on pornographic photos and videos.”

It said that then these users “blackmail the victim and demand a huge amount of money.”

“These blackmailers lure people by attractive photos in their Facebook and WhatsApp profile”, it said.

The Cyber Police said that the blackmailers “engage the victim in a video call. During the call, the victim is shown a pornographic clip, and video is recorded or screenshots are taken simultaneously to blackmail the victim.”

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Morphed obscene videos add to WhatsApp users’ worry in Kashmir

While cautioning the social media users, the Cyber Police has advised people not to panic. “Don’t accept any friend requests from strangers. Don’t engage in a video chat with strangers. Don’t succumb and never pay money. Immediately inform your family, friends, and relatives about it. Report it to the local police or cyber police. Preserve all evidence like screenshots for helping police,” police said.

The Cyber Police Kashmir also assured confidentiality to all the victims. “You can be the victim of this. You’re not alone. Confidential support is available. You can get through this.”

The Cyber Police Kashmir has asked the users to contact them in case of anything such.

Earlier, there were many reports of people across Kashmir valley receiving obscene videos from unknown numbers and threatening them of making their videos viral on social media in case of failing to pay demanded money by the users.

A number of youth across north and south Kashmir shared their trauma and the worst experience they have been through over the last couple of days after being verbally tortured by unknown users demanding money. (KNO)