Lucknow: 21-year-old arrested for hacking gmail account, seeking ransom

LUCKNOW: A 21-year-old science graduate was arrested for hacking a gmail account and blackmailing a youth to pay Rs 30,000 ransom in Auraiya district on Sunday.


The miscreant arrested was identified as Suraj. He was arrested from his home in Dayalpur on the basis of surveillance. Police also recovered two mobile phones and a laptop from his possession.

Police said that Suraj randomly selected a phone number through a Whats App group of a friend known as ‘Hyatt’.

“Suraj first hacked the Facebook password of that number’s owner which unfortunately was the phone number and then simultaneous accessed his gmail account. Later, he surfed through the gmail account and in the google drive found objectionable photos of the owner with a girl,” said Triveni Singh SP Auraiya.

Trying to get advantage from the photos, Suraj created a virtual number of US which is freely available by service providers. Then using that virtual number he contacted the victim asking for ransom on January 1.

Initially, the victim ignored the call thinking it to be a prank. But on the second occasion the victim was threatened that his “objectionable photos with the girl” would be sent to his father and sister if the ransom is not paid. Fearing which the victim first informed his parents and then approached the police on January 3.

Singh further added that Suraj was traced by IP address which he used to login the victim’s facebook id. The officer also added that users must never keep password of their mobile phones as a password of gmail accounts and facebook.