News9 Live presents a gripping year-end special, ‘Devil in my Phone’, a powerful investigative series delving into the pervasive threats of online sextortion and hacking in India.

Produced by News9 Plus journalists Gulam Jeelani and Shantasree Sarkar, the series brings to light the sinister realities of cybercrime plaguing the nation.

Available on News9 Plus, the world’s premier news OTT platform, ‘Devil in my Phone’ confronts the dark side of the internet, spotlighting two crucial episodes – ‘Sextortion’ and ‘Hackers for Hire’. These documentaries offer a raw and unfiltered look into the evolving landscape of cybercrime, unveiling the causes and catastrophic effects of these digital felonies.

According to the company’s press release, in ‘Hackers for Hire,’ Shantasree Sarkar navigates through chilling tales of online financial fraud, exposing the staggering Rs 239 crore loss from Rajasthan alone.

The documentary unveils the intricate web of cybercrime, from the innocuous origins involving SIM cards and smartphones to the far-reaching consequences affecting countless lives.

On the other end, Gulam Jeelani’s investigation into ‘Sextortion’ unveils the ruthless tactics employed by scammers, exploiting pornography, fake videos, and social exposure threats to extort large sums of money from unsuspecting victims.

Victims, often pushed to the brink of bankruptcy or even suicide, grapple with the aftermath of these heinous schemes.

The documentaries reveal a startling fact: over half of the reported cybercrimes in India stem from the Mewat region near Delhi. Ravi Prakash Meharda, Rajasthan’s Director General of Police for Cyber Crime, dissects the sophisticated mechanisms driving this nefarious industry.

The series uncovers an alarming reality: not even law enforcement officials are immune to these crimes. Amit Dubey, a cybersecurity expert, highlights how over 150 Uttar Pradesh law enforcement officers fell victim to sextortion in the past year alone.

With meticulous detail, ‘Devil in my Phone’ paints a concerning picture: over 2000 cybercrime complaints are filed daily in India, with 42 percent of the population affected in the last three years. Despite these alarming statistics, social stigma impedes the reporting of sextortion cases.

Featuring insights from prominent figures like Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police Prashant Gautam, Cyber Psychologist Nirali Bhatia, and Cyberlaw Expert Karnika Seth, ‘Devil in my Phone’ confronts a pressing issue at a time when India’s internet usage reaches unprecedented heights.

Aired on News9 Live and available on News9 Plus, ‘Devil in My Phone’ amplifies the urgent need to address and combat the growing menace of cybercrime amidst the expanding online user base in India.