Extortion Call Triggers Heart Attack
In a heartbreaking incident in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, a woman named Malti Verma died of a heart attack after receiving an extortion call. On September 30, she was contacted via WhatsApp by a man impersonating a police officer. The caller falsely claimed that her daughter had been arrested in a sex trafficking case.
Threats and Immediate Panic
The caller threatened to release an explicit video of her daughter unless Malti paid Rs. 1 lakh. Distressed by this alarming situation, she reached out to her son, Divyanshu, asking him to send the money quickly to prevent her daughter from facing legal troubles.
Suspicion and Investigation
Divyanshu became suspicious after hearing about the call. Upon checking the number, he discovered it was from Pakistan, confirming it was a scam. “After she got the call from the man, she panicked and called me, and I asked her for the number from which she had received the call. When I checked the number, I found that it had a +92 prefix and I told her it was a scam. She was still very anxious and started feeling unwell,” Divyanshu explained. To reassure his mother, he told her that he had already spoken with his sister, who was safe at college.
Decline in Health
Unfortunately, the stress from the situation took a severe toll on Malti’s health. After coming home from school around 4:00 PM, she began to feel unwell. She was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.
Efforts to Save Her
A video circulated online showing neighbors rushing to Malti’s aid after she suffered a heart attack. The footage depicts individuals carrying her to a car to take her to the hospital.
Family’s Response and Police Investigation
Malti’s daughter recounted, “I got a call from my brother who asked me where I was. He told me to give him a video call after I informed him that I was in college.” Malti’s husband explained the distressing situation, stating, “The cause for this was that she had received a call stating that her daughter had been caught in a sex racket and the caller had demanded Rs. 1 lakh from her. She got very worried because of this and died 15 minutes after she reached home. We are investigating the number from which the call came and will take action,” a senior police official confirmed.
Rising Concerns Over Cybercrime,
In light of this tragedy, the Congress party highlighted the increasing prevalence of such extortion cases, referring to them as “digital arrests.” They emphasized, “This is not the first incident of ‘digital arrest’ in the country. Such cases are coming to light every day. Cyber criminals are continuously harming people.”