Fake Instagram account targets Ahmedabad teen, uploads obscene content with family photos

The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime police have registered a case after an 18-year-old girl from Lambha alleged that an unidentified person created a fake Instagram account using her name and photograph, uploaded morphed content, and shared obscene remarks involving her and her family members, causing severe mental harassment and harm to their reputation.

Riya (name changed), a resident of Lambha, stated in her complaint that the incident came to light on September 6, when her sister received a follow request from an Instagram profile with the username ‘muskuu1221’. This The account carried her photo as its display picture, but was titled with a derogatory term and contained obscene references.

The fake profile had also listed her sister’s mobile number with the caption “Is number pe call karna” (“Call on this number”) followed by an offensive emoji. The account further displayed photos and reels featuring Riya and her sisters, which the complainant claimed were taken from their genuine social media accounts.

“When her sister asked the account holder why her number was listed, the account holder sent vulgar and abusive messages about her, her sisters, and her mother,” said police.

Riya, a Class 12 student, lives with her parents and two sisters. Her father works with a private firm in Aslali, while her mother runs a small grocery shop. The family told police that this was not the first instance of online impersonation; a similar fake account had reportedly been created earlier, but was deleted after they had complained informally.

The sisters took screenshots of the fake profile, the abusive messages, and the Instagram bio before the account was deleted by the perpetrator. They later approached the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ahmedabad and filed a formal written complaint. 

Cyber Cell officials confirmed that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and BNS about online impersonation, obscenity, and defamation. “We are tracing the IP address and device used to create the fake account. Initial evidence has been secured from screenshots provided by the complainant.”

The police are coordinating with Meta (the parent company of Instagram) to retrieve account creation details, login IPs, and associated email addresses. Officials said the act constituted “criminal impersonation and defamation with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman”.