Archive · 29 Sep 2026
London Gift Scam Leads to Blackmail and ₹99,000 Loss
An Indore woman met someone online who said he lived in London.
He told her he was bringing special gifts for her.
Later, another person said the man had been stopped at Delhi Airport with illegal goods.
The callers frightened her by saying she could face legal trouble.
She sent them money through Paytm.
They then threatened to share private videos unless she paid more.
She reported the incident to the Cyber Cell.
The report says the listed payments total ₹1.02 lakh, although the case is described as a ₹99,000 loss.
An Indore woman allegedly lost ₹99,000 after an online acquaintance claimed he was bringing her gifts from London.
The caller later claimed he had been detained at Delhi Airport over illegal gold jewellery and branded items.
A second accused allegedly posed as a senior law-enforcement official and demanded money for the man’s release.
The woman transferred ₹2,000 and ₹45,000 through Paytm, then paid another ₹55,000 after threats to leak explicit videos.
The Cyber Cell is investigating the phone numbers and QR codes; a similar ₹12.05 lakh case was reported in May.
- Who
- An unnamed woman from Indore was allegedly targeted by an online acquaintance and his accomplices.
- What
- She was allegedly defrauded and blackmailed after being told that a London-based man had been detained with gifts and illegal goods.
- When
- The first call reportedly came on September 19; the blackmail allegedly occurred the following day. A similar case was reported on May 30.
- Where
- The victim is from Indore, Madhya Pradesh; the alleged detention was said to have occurred at Delhi Airport.
- Why
- The accused allegedly demanded money by threatening legal action and later threatened to leak explicit videos.
- Reported victim
- An unnamed woman from Indore
- Alleged loss
- ₹99,000, according to the report
- Detailed transfers
- ₹2,000, ₹45,000 and ₹55,000, which total ₹1.02 lakh
- Initial contact
- September 19, from a man claiming to live in London
- Payment method
- Paytm
- Investigation
- Cyber Cell officials are examining phone numbers and QR codes
- Related case
- A May 30 case allegedly involved a ₹12.05 lakh loss