The woman was told that her details were found on a “videos exchange website” through the Tor browser.
BENGALURU: A 27-year-old private firm employee was left distressed after strangers began bombarding her with a barrage of unsolicited WhatsApp messages, calls and emails. The complainant, Sarah (name changed), a resident of east Bengaluru, said the harassment began after she received an email in the early hours of June 21 informing her that an account in her name had been created on ‘Newgrounds.com’ using her email ID. Seeking to find out how her details had been obtained, Sarah said she contacted one of the strangers on June 22.
Sarah told him that the details belonged to her but had been shared without her consent, and requested that the account be reported.
She said she had neither created the account nor authorised anyone to do so. On June 23, she received an email from a Proton Mail account using the name “loliporn production house,” with the sender username “loliporn007”. Some senders used names such as “Cristiano Ronaldo” and “A.kfiringstoney”. He told her that a friend had shared her number and that it had been posted on an online trading platform. He reproduced her email ID and mobile number, and claimed to have found her details on a “videos exchange website” through the Tor browser.
Her name, mobile number, email ID and other details had been circulated on online platforms and the dark web, exposing her to a stream of unsolicited communications from unknown people seeking sexual connections. The email stated that the account could be deleted or the subscription cancelled by clicking a link provided in it. She clicked the link but received no confirmation and did not pursue the matter further. Soon after, she started receiving messages and calls from unknown people making sexual remarks and seeking relationships. Initially, she blocked the numbers, hoping the communications would stop, but the messages and calls continued. The email contained her email ID and mobile number and directed her to a dark web platform. The sender also sought her age and photographs. She subsequently received communications from several unknown numbers and email IDs, including a WhatsApp message from a foreign number asking her age and a missed WhatsApp video call from another number. She also received an email in Russian asking for her contact on a private messenger app (Zangi). In early Aug, another person contacted her through WhatsApp and referred to the dark web. But he continued the communication and shared the link again.
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She said the sexually coloured communications had caused her mental trauma and raised fears about her safety. A senior police officer said the victim has provided copies of the emails and WhatsApp conversations. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act. Download the TOI App.