In a shocking case of online deception, the Vinobha Bhave Nagar police in Mumbai have apprehended a woman for allegedly extorting a massive sum of Rs 10 lakh from a 31-year-old interior designer. The victim, a resident of Kurla, fell prey to the scam after attempting to book an escort service through a website.
The Elaborate Online Trap
The incident came to light when the complainant filed a First Information Report (FIR). According to the police report, the man was browsing the internet when he came across an online link. This link redirected him to a website advertising escort services. The site displayed photographs of several women along with their names and WhatsApp contact numbers.
Intrigued, the victim clicked on one of the links, which immediately opened a WhatsApp chat window. A conversation ensued with a woman, later identified as the accused, Natasha Dogra. She quoted a price of Rs 3,500 for a one-hour "service" and demanded an advance payment of Rs 500. She sent a QR code linked to a bank account, and the man transferred the amount, followed by another Rs 600 as requested.
A Web of Lies and Threats
However, Dogra did not meet the complainant as promised. Instead, she began citing a series of excuses to avoid the meeting and, more importantly, to demand more money. The police investigation revealed a long list of fabricated reasons she used to extract funds from the victim:
- Travel expenses to reach him.
- A medical emergency involving her father.
- Costs for hospital admission.
- Funeral rituals after the alleged illness and death of her mother.
- Expenses for property transfer in her native place.
To further win his trust and ensure continued payments, Dogra allegedly professed love for the victim. She even made grand promises, claiming she would inherit her parents' house worth crores of rupees and would return all the money she had taken.
The situation took a darker turn when the victim expressed his inability to pay more. Dogra then resorted to criminal intimidation. She allegedly threatened to send screenshots of their WhatsApp conversations to his wife and file a false rape case against him. Terrified by these threats, the interior designer continued to make payments, which eventually accumulated to the staggering sum of Rs 10 lakh.
The Arrest and Charges
The cycle of extortion only broke when the victim finally confided in his brother. The brother insisted that he approach the police and file a formal complaint. Based on this complaint, the Vinobha Bhave Nagar police initiated an investigation and subsequently arrested Natasha Dogra from Mira Road.
The accused has been formally booked under multiple sections. The charges against her include:
- Cheating
- Criminal intimidation
- Criminal breach of trust under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act
This case serves as a stark warning about the dangers of engaging with illicit services online and the sophisticated methods scammers use to exploit victims emotionally and financially. The police have urged the public to exercise extreme caution and report any such extortion attempts immediately.
