Likes Don’t Lie — But Sometimes, They Kill

A Crime Diaries Exclusive | June 2025

Introduction: The Illusion of Connection

She danced for the camera. He watched like a shadow. Every like, every story, drew him closer. Until fantasy turned to fixation. And the reel became real and deadly.

In modern India, social media has become more than a space for likes, comments, and filters. It has become a breeding ground for a chilling new age of crime. The digital world features Instagram blackmail and Tinder traps. It also includes live-streamed suicides and Telegram extortion rings. These activities are slowly blurring the lines between connection and crime.

And the worst part?

These stories often vanish as quickly as the “stories” they’re posted on.

The Invisible Victim: Roshni’s Final Post Wasn’t a Goodbye

Roshni (name changed), a 17-year-old from Jaipur, was known for her bright smile and trending Instagram reels. Her classmates admired her energy. But one message changed her life.

“Aryan” a follower with a well-curated profile slid into her DMs, praising her videos. Compliments turned to personal chats. He asked for pictures. She hesitated. He said it was “just for fun.”

She gave in. What followed was a nightmare. He threatened to leak them, edited her photos obscenely, and started circulating them through Telegram groups. Roshni was blackmailed daily. She stopped going to school. Her parents thought she was just being moody.

Until one morning, her mother found her body hanging from the ceiling fan.

She had left one line in her diary:

“I wasn’t weak. I was just alone.”

⚠️ System Failure:

No cyber-awareness program in her school. No FIR was filed, and police said there was “no physical crime.” Telegram groups remain active to this day.

📊 Data Point: NCRB reported 11,378 cyber-blackmail cases in 2022 most victims were under 25.

Ravi’s Love Story That Led to Death

Ravi Verma, a 34-year-old government clerk from Kanpur, thought he’d found love again on Facebook. A woman named “Neha” began chatting with him. She was flirty, and warm, and claimed she worked in marketing.

They agreed to meet at a small hotel on the outskirts of the city.

Ravi never came back.

His body was later discovered in a canal. Strangled. His phone and wallet are gone. The Facebook profile had vanished too. The woman was never real just a trap run by a local honeytrap gang targeting single men.

His mother wept in court:

“He went looking for love. They gave him death.”

⚠️ System Failure:

Hotel took no ID. Facebook profile was deleted without a trace. No cyber forensics team in the district.

📊 Data Point: India saw over 8,200 honeytrap crimes between 2021–2023, with barely 15% reaching trial stages.

Love, Loot & Lies: The Dating App Scam Factories

Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge were meant to bring people closer. But in urban India, they’re also tools of organized crime.

How the scam works:

• A “girl” matches with the victim.

• Suggests a meeting at a posh lounge or café.

• Victim arrives, is forced to pay massive bills.

• Fake bouncers or “police” threaten molestation cases.

• If the victim resists, they are beaten, filmed, or blackmailed.

Real Case:

In 2024, a man in Thane matched with a woman who led him to a club. His ₹800 meal turned into a ₹28,000 bill. When he refused, a man flashed a fake police badge. The victim was threatened with a false harassment case and forced to pay.

(Source: Mid-Day, March 2024)

⚠️ System Failure:

No action against establishments. Victim-blaming by police. No awareness campaigns from dating apps.

📊 Data Point: Over 3,000 dating app extortion cases were filed in Maharashtra alone in 2023.

When Crime Becomes a Spectacle: Suicide on Livestream

In March 2024, a 16-year-old Kolkata girl went live on Instagram.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered:

“I just wanted to matter.”

Some viewers begged her to stop. Others sent laughing emojis.

Then, she took her dupatta, tied it to a ceiling fan, and the screen went black.

One viewer tried calling the police but by the time help came, she was gone.

⚠️ System Failure:

Instagram delayed the takedown. There was no IP trace team. Her cry for help became content for others.

📊 Fact: Over 100 suicides have been linked to livestreaming on Indian platforms since 2020. Fewer than 10 led to legal reform or tech accountability.

Seema’s Story: The Price of Going Viral

Seema (19), a commerce student in Delhi, had over 60,000 followers. She did makeup tutorials and dance reels.

She was on the verge of signing her first brand deal.

Then, someone took her photos and photoshopped them onto pornographic images. Telegram groups circulated them. Her classmates saw them. Her teachers began acting cold.

Her father said, “Stop all this online nonsense.”

She withdrew from everything social media, friends, family.

One night, she overdosed on sleeping pills. She survived but never spoke again.

⚠️ System Failure:

No FIR. “No proof who did it,” police said. Telegram refused to take the images down.

📊 Data Point: NCRB reported a 36% rise in cyber defamation and morphing crimes from 2021 to 2023. Majority victims are women under 25.

The Mental Health Fallout

Online crime doesn’t just steal money or privacy it tears apart the mind.

Common effects on victims:

• Panic attacks from notification sounds.

• Social withdrawal due to fear of judgment.

• Sleepless nights, depressive spirals.

• Suicidal thoughts due to loss of dignity.

📊 Mental Health Data: India spends just ₹40 per person annually on mental health. In comparison, developed nations spend over ₹500 per person. Cyber trauma support is nearly non-existent outside metros.

The Breakdown of Systems

The Booming Business of Shame

There’s a digital black market thriving in India:

• Nude images are sold for as little as ₹300.

• Sextortion rings run from internet cafés in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Nepal.

• Victim data phone numbers, addresses are sold openly on the dark web.

This isn’t just cybercrime. It’s organized emotional terrorism.

Why Victims Stay Silent

• Fear of not being believed

• Police dismissals like “Why did you send photos?”

• Families blaming the victim, especially girls

• No legal aid, no therapy, no tech help

• Trauma too deep to put into words

Most young victims believe: “I’ll be blamed more than the criminal.”

What Can Be Done

For Parents:

• Create a safe, non-judgmental space.

• Ask questions about digital lives regularly.

• Don’t shame. Just listen.

For Schools:

• Make digital safety part of the curriculum.

• Train staff to spot emotional withdrawal.

• Connect with local cybercrime units for workshops.

For Government:

• Create 24×7 helplines in Hindi, Hinglish, and regional languages.

• Make therapy available to cybercrime victims.

• Increase funding for cyber forensics.

For Platforms:

• Auto-detect suicidal keywords in all Indian languages.

• Partner with NGOs for red flag reporting.

• Fast-track takedowns of abusive content.

Final Thought

The next crime may not happen in a dark alley.

It may happen behind a smiley emoji, a seductive reel, or a blue tick profile.

India’s youth are bleeding silently one notification at a time.

Let’s stop scrolling past pain.

Let’s start recognizing the cries hidden behind filters.

They weren’t weak.

They were unheard.

And now, all that’s left… is silence.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article is intended for informational and awareness purposes only. All real names of victims have been changed to protect their privacy and dignity. The cases mentioned rely on verified media reports. They also use publicly available data from trusted sources like NCRB, news publications, and cyber safety organizations.

We do not intend to defame, accuse, or target any individual, community, app, or platform. The article highlights the growing issue of social media-related crimes in India. Its purpose is to encourage public awareness and promote responsible digital behavior. It also aims to advocate for improved safety measures.

If you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying, sextortion, or emotional distress, reach out to the nearest cybercrime cell. It is important to seek help. Contact a mental health helpline for support. You are not alone, and help is available.

For takedown requests, privacy concerns, or corrections, please contact the Crime Diaries editorial team through our official website.

Verified Sources Used

• NCRB 2022–24 Reports: Cyber harassment, sextortion, teen suicides

• Mid-Day (March 2024): Tinder Trap Cases in Mumbai, Thane

• NDTV (2024): Honeytrap, App Scams Exposé

• India Today (2023): Bengaluru Techie Sextortion Case

• The Wire & The Print: Telegram Black Market Reports

• Cyber Peace Foundation: Annual Cybercrime Impact Reports

• BBC Hindi: Regional Coverage of Online Harassment