How Scammers Use WhatsApp to Create Deepfake Blackmail Videos

News Desk

Islamabad: When Hassan Naveed*—a video editor by profession—wrapped up his late-night editing session, he had no idea a simple WhatsApp video call would become the beginning of a nightmare.

“It was around 2 am when I was just about to sleep when I received a video call from an unknown number,” Hassan recalls. “I answered. The screen was black. I kept saying ‘hello,’ but there was no response. The call ended after seven seconds.”

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed again—this time with a video. What he saw shook him to the core: a 23-second clip, clearly edited to appear as though he was engaged in a lewd video call with a naked woman. It was a deepfake, and it wasn’t long before the blackmail began.

A Trap Set with Precision

Before the call, Hassan* had been receiving messages on Instagram from an account with a woman’s name. The sender claimed to be a Bangladeshi journalist inspired by Pakistan. “She insisted on getting my number, saying she wanted to explore cultural topics. I refused to talk on the phone, but she kept pushing,” he said.

What followed was textbook sextortion: after the fake video was sent, the scammers demanded Rs. 25,000 via EasyPaisa, threatening to post the clip on Facebook and Instagram, and send it to his friends. When he resisted, they lowered the amount to Rs. 10,000.“I didn’t pay a rupee,” Hussain said firmly. Instead, he filed a complaint with the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). At the office, he found he was not alone—several others were there, victims of similar frauds. “My complaint is still being processed. The number used was Bangladeshi, but it’s now switched off.”

The Scam is Widespread

Amin Ali*, a teacher from Bannu, reported a distressing case involving one of his students. “He called me at 1 am, crying. He begged me to check my WhatsApp,” Ali said. “In the voice notes, he was weeping, saying he wanted to end his life because someone had blackmailed him after sending a fake obscene video.”

The case followed the same pattern—a video call, followed by an edited clip, and then blackmail.

Anatomy of a Scam

According to cybersecurity expert Zia, these scams are increasingly common in Pakistan and usually follow one of three patterns:

Sextortion via Video Calls

Strangers often posing as women initiate video calls late at night. When answered, they record a screen grab of the call and then digitally edit a video using deepfake techniques. The result: a fake obscene clip used for blackmail.

How to protect yourself: In WhatsApp settings, mute calls from unknown numbers. You’ll still receive notifications, but your phone won’t ring.

Microfinance Impersonation Fraud

Fraudsters pretend to represent microfinance companies, gaining trust by referencing real personal data (often collected from public sources). They request users to enable screen sharing during a call. Once active, they watch as users enter codes or OTPs, allowing them to empty bank or mobile wallets.Fake Kidnapping Extortion

In this terrifying scheme, scammers call victims pretending to have kidnapped a family member. They demand ransom payments, using detailed family information gleaned from social media and other public platforms. “They have your family tree,” warns Zia. “And that makes it easy for them to sound convincing.”

A Culture of Silence

Zia says the biggest challenge in fighting such cybercrime is the reluctance of victims to report.

“We don’t report out of fear or laziness,” he said. “But unless you file a complaint, you remain the easiest target for these predators.”

Victims can file reports online through the NCIA website, call the cybercrime helpline, or visit their nearest police station or NCCIA office. “Search Google. The numbers are there. But people need to take the first step,” Zia emphasizes.

The rise of video-based scams in Pakistan underscores a growing need for digital literacy, privacy awareness, and proactive reporting. For every Hussain who steps forward, there are dozens who suffer in silence—often out of shame or fear.

Real name changed to protect privacy.

The report has been published in Urdu and it is the translated version of the news