Loan app: Fraudsters ‘blackmail’ Odisha girl with morphed photo

Cuttack: A girl has lodged a complaint in the Cyber police station of the Commissionerate Police alleging blackmail and harassment by fraudsters, who were advancing loans to people through a mobile app.

The fraudsters allegedly blackmailed the girl, now working in banking sector, to provide them Rs 1 lakh in last four months by threatening the latter to make a morphed photo of her viral on social media.

The girl, a resident of Kurang Pradhan area under Cuttack Sadar, had reportedly availed Rs 5,000 as loan through the app. The fraudsters have been blackmailing and harassing the girl even though she had repaid the loan amount with interest.

As per the complaint, the girl had received several messages in May this year to avail loans up to Rs 4 lakh from ‘Home Cash’ app. The girl had downloaded the app to her mobile phone by submitting her Aadhaar and PAN details.

Subsequently, the victim had borrowed Rs 5,000 through the app. Two days later, a man called the girl through WhatsApp and asked her to repay the amount. Soon, the victim repaid the money through the UPI link provided by the caller.

Despite this, the fraudsters have been blackmailing the girl for last four months. They have also illegally accessed the contact details of the victim and started seeking money from her acquaintances, said the complaint.

The cyber crooks allegedly called the girl’s father at around 9.30 am August 6 and sought Rs 3,500. They also made a fresh call at 11 am that day and asked the victim’s father to pay Rs 20,000, added the complaint.

The police have registered a case in this regard and launched a probe, said a source.