WhatsApp Video Call Sextortion Scam: How It Works And What To Do

WhatsApp Video Call Sextortion Scam: How It Works And How To Stay Safe

"How common is sextortion? Very, very common."

On the Accompany Akki podcast, cyber crime expert Dr. Kanishk Gaur explained how sextortion scams work, who they target, and the simple setting that can protect you.

What is sextortion?

Sextortion is blackmail using sexual images or videos, real or manufactured. The criminal threatens to share the content unless the victim pays.

How the WhatsApp video call sextortion scam works

1. You get a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number.
2. When you answer, a porn video is playing on the other side.
3. For two or three seconds, you're confused about what is happening.
4. The scammer records your face during those seconds.
5. After you hang up, another number contacts you, claiming to have a video of you in a sexual conversation.
6. They demand money, threatening to make it viral.

Who gets targeted?

Anyone. Dr. Gaur has seen cases involving Chief Ministers and sitting Members of Parliament. Public figures are especially vulnerable because their image is everything. In one case, a public figure stayed on the call, thinking the caller was an open-minded party worker, and was later harassed with blackmail calls.

Why deleted intimate images aren't really gone

• Phones often back up automatically to iCloud or Google Drive.
• Deleting from your phone may not delete the backup.
• Cloud accounts can be compromised, and leaked content can end up on the dark web.
• Deleted files can sometimes be recovered from devices.
• Old videos, including those recorded with an ex, can resurface and be tied to you through device details.

How blackmailers stay anonymous

Blackmailers often use platforms like Telegram, Signal and ProtonMail to hide their identity and keep sending threats.

The one WhatsApp setting to change

Turn on "Silence unknown callers" in WhatsApp's privacy settings. Calls from numbers not saved in your contacts won't ring, though they'll still appear in your call list.

What to do if you're targeted

This section is general guidance, not from the conversation.

1. Don't pay. Paying usually leads to more demands.
2. Stop responding, but keep the messages.
3. Save evidence: screenshots, phone numbers, account details and payment requests.
4. Block and report the account on the platform.
5. Report to police: call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in.
6. Use StopNCII.org if you fear intimate images may be shared.
7. Seek support. Talk to someone you trust. Tele-MANAS (14416) offers free mental health support in India.

Prevention tips

• Avoid recording sexually explicit content.
• Review what your phone backs up to the cloud.
• Secure cloud accounts with unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.
• Wipe old devices properly before giving them away.
• Don't answer video calls from unknown numbers.

Key takeaways

• Video call sextortion is very common and targets everyone, including politicians.
• A few seconds on an unknown call is enough for scammers.
• Deleted images may survive in backups.
• "Silence unknown callers" on WhatsApp is a simple, powerful safeguard.
• Victims are never to blame. Report rather than pay.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/LFw6Gq86niw

 Join the Accompany Akki WhatsApp channel: https://wa.openinapp.co/a46ji

Did you know about this scam before today?