Honey trap

Honey trap is a scam where an attractive stranger builds a romantic or intimate bond online, then blackmails or cheats you for money.

Honey trap: A honey trap is a scam in which someone, often with an attractive profile photo, builds a romantic or intimate connection with you online, then uses it to blackmail you, record you, or take money through a made-up emergency or investment.

It usually starts with a friend request or a message on social media or a dating app. The person is warm, replies quickly and soon moves to video calls or private chat. Quite soon, there are stories of hardship, a business problem or an investment tip. In another version, the call is recorded and used for threats. Warm attention and fast replies are used to lower your guard before any request is made.

Be careful with people you have not met in real life who ask for money, secrecy or intimate content. Do a reverse image search of their photos, ask for a live video call that is not intimate, and talk to a friend. If threats begin, do not pay, save screenshots, block, and report on cybercrime.gov.in. Many people are targeted, and it is not your fault.

Tips

• Never send money or intimate images to someone you have only met online.
• Check their photos with a reverse image search.
• If threatened, stop replying, save evidence and report.

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