The Internet has provided the average person with a world of opportunity, but it has also made it simple for fraudsters to select their victims. Through the Internet, there are several frauds and other fraudulent activities that prey on innocent individuals. Honey trapping is one of the most popular internet frauds. A honey trap is not just about deceiving a man or woman into sexual behaviour; the term is used in a broader sense. It refers to a scheme where one person entices another to reveal sensitive information or to do something foolish. Alternatively, a person may be lured with the promise of a good job or a great relationship. The target is then caught in a web of fraud, leading to a demand for a large sum of money. This entire process is called a honey trap. In Pakistan, there are several methods of honey trapping. These include the lure of marrying a rich and beautiful woman, offering educated young people jobs, promising the business class cheap grains, tractors, vehicles, or factories, and using girls to make phone calls to trap young men in love, The women in the gang would lure victims into a relationship over the phone, invite them over, spike their drinks, and then record compromising videos to extort money, ultimately swindling them out of their savings.
For a honey trap, a member of the gang contacts an individual who is financially stable, educated but unemployed, desirous of marriage, or attempting to go abroad. By building a relationship with this person, they provide the gang with complete information about the target, including their residence, family members, business, and the names of relatives. This way, the gang can easily target their victim through phone or social media.
Incidents of honey traps continue to emerge daily in newspapers and on social media. Last month, in September, District Jhang police arrested three members of a honey trap gang, including two women, who extorted Rs 260,000 from a man. The gang had promised to marry one of their females to the complainant’s relative.
A few days ago, a former employee of a sensitive agency, residing M.A Jinnah Road in the PS New Multan jurisdiction, became a victim of a honey trap and was abducted by Kacha bandits. This is the second citizen from Multan to be kidnapped by these bandits in a few months. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of 20 million rupees, threatening that if the amount is not paid, the victim’s body will be disposed of in the river. Previously, a victim from Multan had been released after a ransom of 2 million rupees was paid for their recovery.
A delegation of journalists recently met with Additional IG of South Punjab, Kamran Khan, in his office. Among the visitors was a female journalist who shared that the Additional IG is dedicated to eradicating crime and criminal elements. She reported chilling facts, stating that Kamran Khan informed the journalists that “the bandits in the Kacha region have recruited several of their associates into the police force, and some corrupt elements within the police are colluding with these bandits.” These insiders keep the bandits informed about police operations, resulting in numerous police officers losing their lives during missions. The female journalist highlighted that citizens are being abducted through honey traps. Operating from the Kacha area, these bandits successfully demand ransoms. The Additional IG clarified the future course of action, stating that the police lack sufficient resources and will now conduct operations in the Kacha region alongside the military to eliminate no-go areas. He mentioned that they have closed off internal and external routes to the Kacha area, and positive results are already being observed.
WhatsApp Honey Trap Scam is new deceptive scheme exploits emotions to lure victims into a dangerous trap. It uses the popular messaging platform to exploit victims.They might initiate contact and build trust by acting friendly or flirtatious. Once trust is established, they might initiate video calls.During the call, they may try to trick you into compromising situations without your knowledge. Scammers secretly record compromising moments from the video call. They then threaten to expose these recordings to your friends, family or on social media unless you give them money or fulfil other demands.
How you can stay safe:- Be cautious of people you don’t know online, especially if they approach you romantically.
– Avoid sharing personal details or engaging in intimate conversations with strangers.
– Never engage in video calls where you might be tricked into compromising situations.
– If you become a target, don’t give in to blackmail. Report the scam to WhatsApp and consider reaching out to law enforcement.
High ranked Police officers highlighted the significant challenge posed to law enforcement agencies by criminals who lure unsuspecting citizens into traps through deception and greed in the riverine areas of Sindh and Punjab. IG Sindh said that “honey trap” in katcha areas of Sindh and Punjab is a big challenge for the government institutions. Dacoits in the katcha areas lure citizens from all over the country with marriage proposals, easy money, cheap car, job, business and other things through social media. He has directed to create a mechanism for continuous communication with the families of the abductees.
The Punjab Police is working against the honey trap gang. This year, the Lahore Police successfully arrested a mastermind from Peshawar in July. Jul 24, 2024. Layyah city police busted a honey-trap gang, registered a case against its six members and arrested its woman member. The case was registered under sections 384, 355, 292, 342, 379, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code against the gangsters who were involved in honey traps, extortion and blackmailing. Complainant Abdul Aziz, a businessman dealing in tractors and machinery.
Writer is senior analyst. He can be reached at [email protected]
