Mumbai: Maharashtra recorded 379 sextortion cases between Jan 2022 and Aug 2025, including 193 in Mumbai, which resulted in collective losses of a little over Rs 21 crore and recoveries of only Rs 40 lakh. The period saw 603 cyberbullying cases, with scammers extorting Rs 106.5 crore and authorities recovering a mere Rs 2 crore, latest Maharashtra Cyber Cell data shows.With cyber fraudsters constantly finding new ways to target unsuspecting citizens, the enforcement is still trying to catch up — it has cracked only around 30% of the sextortion and cyberbullying cases during this period.Cyberbullying is a growing public health concern linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts. Sextortion has followed a similar pattern, with victims losing money after scammers blackmail them over morphed objectionable photos obtained during chats or WhatsApp video calls. State Cyber Cell data attribute the rise of both offences to increased internet access and lack of awareness among citizens. “Scams and sextortion will only keep getting advanced and we will witness newer modus operandi of such crimes,” pointed out cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia.A 23-year-old manager at a Powai real estate firm lost Rs 20,000 between April 4 and 6 after connecting with a user, Divya, on the dating application quack quack d. Powai police said the fraudster shared the victim’s private video with his brother, friend and a client from his contact list. A case was filed on Friday, following an additional demand of Rs 30,000 to prevent the video from being circulated on social media. In May 2024, Pant Nagar police in Ghatkopar (E) arrested Ramchandra Ambardekar for posting obscene comments about women police officers on social media. In Aug 2020, Mumbai police’s cyber cell arrested Shashikant Jadhav (27) from Aurangabad, for cyberbullying actress Sonakshi Sinha and using derogatory language against her.A senior IPS officer said, “The primary cause of cyberbullying is anonymity, allowing a bully to easily target anyone over the internet by hiding their original identity.”Research by the ministry of labour and employment in 2023 indicated that cyberbullying often stemmed from personal emotions or harmful intentions. Some perpetrators acted out of obsession, jealousy or revenge, especially after relationships ended badly, using online platforms to dominate or humiliate targets. Others sought to control, manipulate or harass victims, while some were motivated by curiosity or the thrill of invading privacy. Scammers and criminals stalk people online to steal personal information or blackmail them. Additionally, some individuals with mental health issues engage in cyberbullying without understanding its harm.According to cyber lawyer Prashant Mali, cyberbullying of women had increased because the law had failed to create deterrence and perpetrators believed they would remain anonymous. He added that aggression on social networking against women went unchecked and violators felt they were unshackled.To protect victims, Maharashtra Cyber Cell, in collaboration with Brush of Hope, launched a dedicated 24/7 helpline — 022-65366666 — to support victims of cyberbullying and sextortion in March this year. The service aims to provide psychological counselling, legal advice and emergency response measures to individuals experiencing isolation and fear due to online harassment. “This service is designed to assist victims of cyberbullying and sextortion by offering immediate support through psychological counselling, legal advice and emergency response measures, ensuring prompt assistance to those in need,” said a cyber police officer.Cyber psychologist Nirali Bhatia said in 2016, they launched Cyber Wellness Foundation to protect young internet users from online hate and cyberbullying through counselling, guidance and awareness education initiatives. Since then, it has supported over 20,000 victims, conducted over 500 training sessions and workshops and launched over 20 anti-cyberbullying campaigns nationwide.
