World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Hyderabad man arrested in online extortion scheme targeting men
Police in Hyderabad arrested a man accused of online extortion after he allegedly posed as women on social media.
The 23-year-old, identified as Pavan Kumar, reportedly built relationships with men through fake accounts and collected their intimate photos and videos.
Police say he then threatened to expose the material unless victims paid him.
One complainant said he paid ₹18 lakh and was asked for another ₹7.16 lakh; police also described that additional sum as money taken through cheating.
Police say hundreds of people were on his list of victims, including a police officer and people in other Indian states and abroad.
Officers seized ₹20 lakh in cash, phones, a laptop and a pen drive, and found numerous fake social media accounts and private images.
The investigation is continuing, and police say they are examining the chats and identifying victims.
Hyderabad police arrested Pawan Kumar, accused of posing as a woman online to trap men and extort money.
Police said he used fake social media accounts to build relationships, collect private images and threaten to publish them.
One complainant said Kumar had taken 1.8 million rupees from him and demanded another 716,000 rupees.
Police said hundreds of people may have been targeted, including a police officer and people in other states and abroad.
Officers said they seized cash, three mobile phones, a laptop and a pen drive.
- Who
- Pawan Kumar, a 23-year-old man, was arrested. Police said he targeted men online.
- What
- He is accused of using fake female profiles to collect private images and extort money.
- When
- The reports were published on October 19, 2026. The alleged scheme's duration is not stated.
- Where
- The case was investigated by Saidabad police in Hyderabad. Police said victims were also in other states and abroad.
- Why
- Police said he used threats to publish victims' private images to demand money.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police said Kumar created fake social media accounts and used them to contact men and collect private images.
Police said he threatened to publish them and demanded money.
Police registered a case and investigated.
Police had arrested Kumar and presented him to the media.
- Accused
- Pawan Kumar, 23
- Alleged amount extorted from one complainant
- 1.8 million rupees
- Further demand to that complainant
- 716,000 rupees
- Fake accounts reported
- 13 Instagram accounts and 14 Facebook accounts
- Items seized
- 20 lakh rupees in cash, three mobile phones, a laptop and a pen drive
3 sources
What people are saying
The accused Pawan Kumar was taken into custody by Saidabad police.
We investigated and caught the accused.