KOOTHATTUKULAM: Four people, including two women, were arrested in the incident of stealing money and a car by honey-trapping a YouTuber. PS Abhilash (28), a native of Idukki Vattapara, Al Amin (23) of Kollam Kaithode Nilamel, P Athira (28), a native of Santhanpara, Idukki, and KK Akshaya (21) of Valara, Idukki, were arrested by the Koothattukulam police from an apartment in Thrippunithura.

A YouTuber from Mancheri who is also a family counsellor was the victim of the fraud. Akshaya called the middle-aged man to a rented room in Koothattukulam at 2 pm on Wednesday saying that she needed counselling. There he fell asleep after drinking the juice given by Akshaya, and when he got up, the four members of the fraud gang made him stand with Athira naked and took photos and videos. Then the gang threatened to spread the photos and videos through social media. The YouTuber was made to transfer Rs 14000 he had in his account through Google Pay. His car worth two lakh rupees was also bought in the name of the accused.

Based on the complaint filed by the YouTuber with Koothattukulam police, the residence of the accused was traced through the mobile tower location and the GPS location of the vehicle. The police caught them at night. DySP TB Vijayan and Inspector MA Anand said that they would check if the gang had committed any other fraud.