Kochi: In spite of the death of a four-member family in Kadamakkudy in Ernakulam, online fraudsters continue to send threatening messages and morphed pictures of the deceased woman, alleged relatives. According to the relatives’ complaint, they received messages on WhatsApp on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. 

Relatives say that the deceased woman had borrowed money via an online loan app, and when the repayment stopped, the online app morphed her pictures and sent threatening messages from various numbers. Some of the people in the deceased's contact list have been receiving audio messages in Hindi too. 

Kadamakkudy natives Nijo (39), his wife Shilpa (29), and their children Abel (7) and Aaron (5) were found dead at their home on Tuesday. The couple, according to the police, poisoned the children before hanging themselves inside the residence.

The police had initially suspected financial burden to be the reason behind the suicide. However, it was alleged that the threatening messages from the loan app were the cause of the suicide. Police have sought assistance from technical experts to examine Shilpa’s phone. 

Beware of online loan apps 

In the wake of the current scenario, it is necessary to remain careful while downloading online loan applications. Ahead of downloading, take time to check whether the app has been registered in the RBI and possesses a secure website and address, recommends cyber cell officials.  

As the application requires online submission of payment documents, it will seek permission to access the phone gallery. Hence, avoid keeping private pictures and videos on your device or deny access permission. If not, there have been reported cases of such pictures being morphed and used for blackmailing the customer.