By Staff Reporter
With the rapid expansion of social media, smartphones, and digital payment systems, law-enforcement agencies say that online sextortion and digitally mediated sex-trade networks are spreading across several Indian states .
While traditional red-light districts remain part of India's commercial sex economy, the rise of digital communication has enabled criminal networks to operate from small towns, rural clusters, and cyber-fraud hubs, targeting victims across the country.
Investigations and media reports show that these networks often combine fake social media profiles, video-call traps, online escort advertising, and digital payments to run operations across multiple states.
One of the most frequently cited hotspots is the Bharatpur region in Rajasthan, where police investigations have uncovered villages involved in large-scale sextortion scams.
Investigators say gangs often:
Authorities report that victims targeted by these networks come from across India, including metropolitan cities and government officials.
The Mewat region of Haryana, particularly Nuh district, has also been linked to organized sextortion groups operating through mobile phones and fake online identities.
These networks typically run call-center style operations, contacting victims through social media or messaging platforms before shifting to video calls and extortion.
Cities such as Noida, Ghaziabad, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh have seen multiple police cases involving online blackmail rings.
Because of their proximity to the National Capital Region, investigators say some cybercrime networks operate across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana simultaneously.
In West Bengal, cybercrime units have reported cases involving online exploitation networks in cities such as:
The state historically hosts one of the country's largest sex-work populations, with West Bengal accounting for about 25% of India's female sex workers, according to public health studies. (Wikipedia)
Researchers say the shift to digital platforms has enabled parts of this economy to move online through messaging apps and social media.
Major metropolitan areas such as Mumbai and Pune have also reported increasing sextortion cases.
Between 2022 and 2025, authorities recorded hundreds of sextortion complaints in Maharashtra, including many in Mumbai alone, involving financial losses of more than ₹21 crore. (The Times of India)
Police say these scams typically involve blackmail using recorded video calls or manipulated images.
Cybercrime investigations in cities like Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam have uncovered cases where criminals used social media to lure victims into explicit video calls and then demanded money. (The Times of India)
Authorities note that digital scams and sextortion have grown alongside rising internet penetration in urban centers.
Cybercrime officials say many of these operations are inter-state networks, meaning criminals may operate from one region while targeting victims nationwide.
Typical structure includes:
Some gangs reportedly maintain dozens or hundreds of fake accounts simultaneously, allowing them to continue operating even after individual profiles are blocked.
India now has hundreds of millions of social media users, creating a vast environment where criminals can target victims anonymously. (Ojed)
Cybercrime reporting systems have received hundreds of thousands of complaints related to online fraud and exploitation, highlighting the scale of digital criminal activity in the country. (Ojed)
Because many victims feel embarrassed to report sextortion cases, investigators believe the real numbers are significantly higher than official statistics.
To combat the growing threat, the Indian government established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which coordinates cybercrime investigations nationwide.
The national cybercrime helpline 1930 allows victims to report incidents quickly and helps authorities freeze fraudulent financial transactions. (Wikipedia)
Police units across India are also conducting awareness campaigns urging citizens to avoid interacting with unknown social media accounts or engaging in explicit online conversations with strangers.
The rise of digital platforms has transformed the landscape of cybercrime in India, allowing sextortion and digital sex-trade networks to operate across state borders with unprecedented reach.
From rural clusters in northern India to major metropolitan cities, investigators say these networks exploit anonymity, social stigma, and financial vulnerability.
As internet access continues to expand, experts emphasize that public awareness, stronger cyber policing, and digital literacy will be critical to limiting the growth of such online criminal networks.