Family duped with AI video showing missing son kidnapped:Parents transfer Rs1.02 lakh under threat; boy traced safely

A 16-year-old boy’s disappearance turned into a case of cyber extortion after unknown persons allegedly used a live video call to threaten his parents and extort Rs 1.02 lakh in the MIG police station area. According to the boy’s mother, Pooja Prajapat, her son left home on February 2 for coaching classes but did not return. The family searched for him and later lodged a missing person’s complaint at MIG police station. Threatening video call creates panic While the family was searching for the boy, they received a video call from unknown persons claiming he was in their custody. They showed a boy with a large knife near him and threatened to kill him if we did not pay. They kept us on continuous video call and warned us not to disconnect. We were terrified, Pooja said. She said the callers even made shocking remarks about harming the child if their demands were not met. The video call reportedly continued for several hours, creating intense fear and pressure. Payment made through QR code Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotia said the complainant informed police that the boy, a Class 10 student aged 16, had left for coaching on February 2 but did not return home. During this period, the family received a video call in which the child was shown and threats were issued demanding Rs1 lakh. The accused sent a QR code and asked for payment. Due to fear, the family transferred Rs1.02 lakh, Dandotia said. He added that the callers did not allow the family to disconnect and continued exerting pressure while displaying the boy on screen. Boy found safe; Deepfake angle probed On February 4, the boy was traced safely in Dewas after he contacted a friend. The family brought him back to Indore. The minor has stated that he had no knowledge of any such video call. Police are investigating the case from a cyber fraud angle. Dandotia said the possibility of AI-generated or manipulated video is also being examined. Transaction details are being analysed to identify those involved.