YouTuber held for cheating women using fake FB profiles

The accused, Lokesh from Tirumullaivoyal, is an engineering college dropout, who has been targetting women looking for a confidante on social media since January, said officials. He is a professional YouTuber, said police. 

Lokesh wooed women with fake FB profiles using photos of different persons and names. He would first ask the women if they were single. If they reply in the affirmative, he would ask the woman to say ‘I love you’ as a confirmation as they were still single, an officer who was part of the team that apprehended him using cyber tools explained his modus operandi. 

“Thereafter, he would engage them into a conversation and make them reveal secrets about their personal life. He would take screenshots of the entire conversation and would then threaten them that their personal conversation would be shared with their parents and relatives. That is how he extorted money,” the officer said. 

However, the accused did not threaten them with any obscene photos and no such materials were found on the two phones that were seized from him, the officer added. 

Investigation revealed that he has cheated many women from Coimbatore, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari and Puducherry using fake profiles. Apart from those in the State, one of the victims is a Malaysian woman, said officials. 

The cybercrime police registered a case after a college student lodged a complaint that she was threatened by a social media friend who extorted her jewels and cash. 

Lokesh was remanded in judicial custody on Saturday and police are investigating if he was acting alone or whether he was part of a bigger gang.