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0 pointsBrajeshwar2y ago0 comments

The receiver don't have to be naked. So, here is the story that got me to look into this a bit to learn what was happening. Father-in-law don't keep all the phone numbers updated, so, he picks up all calls -- mostly video calls from his kids and grandkids.

One day, he picked up a WhatsApp Video, where the woman on the other end was pretty much naked. Father-in-law was in the couch and gave the phone to my wife, asking who is on the other end. After some verbal exchanges to stop calling us; a barrage of WhatsApp message began -- screenshots of a semi naked women and father-in-law on a video chat.

I ignored the first time wife complained. By the 3rd, or so message, I called up a friend to give them a casual call and let them know who he was. Yeah! This whole scamming to get people's picture in phone screenshots getting "viral" seems to be a common scam in India.

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6 comments · 1 top-level

vinay_ys2y ago· 5 in thread

If all it takes is a screenshot, why not just photoshop it? Why do you need to call at all? I know there are a lot of scam calls trying to get payment credentials or get people to make payments but this MO sounds quite implausible.

BrajeshwarOP2y ago

The screenshot is likely the precursor the the video they record since the call got established. For most non-tech, and generations prior to us, would be startled, and likely to act in a haste to avoid further embarrassment. Let's say they have a success rate of less than 10% (1 in 10 calls), it is worth their time sitting in cabin somewhere in a town in India earning ₹25,000 a month working for an "Support Call Center" helping them setup this scam patterns.

You wanna try a sure-shot scam/Spam game right now?

1. Register a domain in India or via an Indian registrar, I will guarantee you that in the next few days to weeks, you will get all the needed spam in your inbox associated with that domain registration. If you have given your phone number, then they will call up there too.

2. Register a company. Baam! Phone calls, emails, and the very famous Book Parcel scam via the post office to the registered address, and what not.

Have fun. India is definitely not for beginners. /wink

notpushkin2y ago

> Register a company

I think that works everywhere, not just in India. I'm getting spam to my Estonian company's and my Russian sole proprietorship's email addresses at least every week.

3 more replies

julianeon2y ago

Because the person making the call does have proof that the victim actually picked up the call. If they needed to they could show up in person and show the blackmailing material to someone else (wife, boss), and show them on their screen that the victim picked up the call, and prove it. That's surely worth something.

davchana2y ago

Showing up in person to blackmail is a sureshot way to get beaten up by victim and their supporters in India, 99% of the times. It is like police-on-the-way pay up right now scams happening in USA. Scammer takes advantage of fear of insult of police showing up & in handcuffs. If the police actually show up, the fear is gone, it can't be undone.

The naked video chat scam, when it was new, was mostly banking on victim wanting to keep it secret or wanting to go away. Once of somebody shows up, that shame is gone; and beating ensues.

Yes, Photoshop happens, simple clothed people face gets plastered of fake screenshots.

There are plenty of other scams going on. Like international caller will call and say your son/daughter/relative is on trouble (hospital, police, accident) amd pay right now to get him saved from that said trouble.

Or caller will say that I will send you X amount of money to safe keep, but pay x/100 now to get X across.

And many.

Eisenstein2y ago

I would guess 1) it is easier to screenshot than to find a picture of someone and then photoshop it in 2) scams are almost always about fear and urgency -- if you tell them you are going to photoshop it and let them think about it for a while, your chances of getting paid are much smaller than if you go 'gotcha now pay me or I hit send'

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