Cyberstalker creates fake FB account of Mumbai woman, posts photos, obscene material on it

A 21-year-old woman from Kandivli (west) has filed a police complaint after an unidentified person allegedly created a fake Facebook account in her name, used her photos on it and posted links introducing her as a sex worker.

The Charkop police, who are investigating the case, said the woman approached them last week, after which the First Information Report (FIR) was registered.

The complainant has a Facebook account on which she has uploaded several photos, but had not restricted other people’s access.

The accused allegedly downloaded her photos, used them to create her fake FB profile, posted links of offensive websites and wrote obscene comments on the new account, as well as called her a sex worker.

On May 25, a family friend called her and asked if she had two FB profiles. When she replied that she did not, he sent her a link on WhatsApp to the second FB profile.

Shocked, the 21-year-old, with the help of her friends, found out that the profile was created on May 21. The same day, she approached the local police, and subsequently, a complaint was filed under section 354(D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 66C (identity theft) and 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material) of the Information Technology Act.

The police said the woman has no idea who could be behind this. “We are trying to trace the accused with the help of the cyber police team. No arrests have been made so far,” said a police official, requesting anonymity.