A new and dangerous form of online fraud is targeting individuals who download loan applications from platforms like Google Chrome. These scammers lure victims with the promise of quick and cheap loans. Once a user downloads the app and shares their personal information, the fraudsters begin their malicious activities.

Reports indicate that these con artists steal private photos and contact details from the victim's phone. They then leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate these photos, transforming them into obscene images. These doctored pictures are subsequently used to blackmail the victims, demanding large sums of money. The scammers threaten to make these explicit images public or send them to the victim's family and friends if their demands are not met.

Police and cyber experts are continuously advising people to be wary of such loan apps. They recommend verifying the authenticity of any unknown app before downloading it. Always download verified apps from official app stores and avoid granting unnecessary permissions (like gallery or contact access) to any application. If you fall victim to such a scam, contact the police or cybercrime helpline immediately. Do not hesitate to seek help while keeping your identity confidential. Awareness and caution are the best defenses against these frauds.