'Sacred Games' actor scared after hacker threatens to leak photos
What's the story
In a shocking turn of events, Elnaaz Norouzi, the acclaimed actor from Sacred Games, has become a victim of cybercrime. The incident, which took place in January, has left her feeling constantly watched and violated.
Speaking to ETimes, she said, "On January 18, I got an anonymous email. Normally, you don't click on such emails, but this one had my password in the subject line. It piqued my curiosity, so I opened it."
Email threat
Norouzi's private photos were attached to the email
Norouzi was horrified to discover her private photos were attached to the email, with a message threatening, "I have your pictures, if you don't want them posted online, then reply to me as soon as possible. If not, the next email will be a link with the pictures online."
The actor promptly approached the Cybercrime Cell, resulting in an investigation that revealed the email was traced to a server in Switzerland.
Investigation details
'The person behind this knew how to evade getting caught'
Norouzi stated that the Cybercrime team responded quickly, getting back within two days.
Their investigation revealed that the server used in the crime did not share user details, making it difficult to trace the person responsible. "It means that the person behind this crime knew how to evade getting caught."
Although the team was unable to gather further information about the user's identity, they took action by terminating the account linked to the crime.
Safety measures
Norouzi's post-incident precautions and emotional distress
Post the incident, Norouzi rushed to secure her online presence. She updated all her passwords and now changes them every month.
The Cybercrime team has been in regular touch with her, advising her to report any suspicious emails or messages.
However, despite taking these precautions, the ordeal has left Norouzi emotionally disturbed.
"I'm terrified that the criminal might have posted my private photos online...I feel like my privacy has been violated," she confessed.
Mental impact
'I feel like someone is watching me...'
Norouzi's mental health has also taken a hit due to this incident.
"Now, I'm scared to even open my emails or social media accounts...I go to bed anxious and wake up in the same state. I've had to reach out to a therapist a few times to help me calm down...It feels like someone is always watching me, and I am living in constant fear," she said.