Bengaluru: We just celebrated Valentine’s Day. Where there is great love, there is heartbreak. And not all of us are can take rejections in our stride. So, we become sour losers, looking for revenge. Imagine the horror of an individual when strangers come knocking at your doorstepseeking sexual favours.

A recent crime was cracked where 44-year-old Gangappa Nanjegowda was arrested for allegedly posting the photo of a woman on a classifieds portal,advertising her as an escort.The investigation revealed that the accused had cheated many women in Bengaluru through matrimonial sites by approaching them as a prospective groom. And it was through shaadi.com that he met a 37-year-old doctor. Her rejection made him angry and he took her picture from the marriage portalto advertise her as an escort.

In another incident, Siddhesh Mitbavkar, a constable’s son, uploads photos and contact details of a 19-year-old girl who rejected him on a social networking site; girl files police complaint after strangers come knocking.

“The internet is a notorious place. And cyber crime has only risen with time in our country. We can use it for all the good reasons and we can abuse it also. And most jilted lovers take revenge on the internet. It is sad and horrifying,” says Bharati Chatterjee, an IT professional. She adds, “It is the easiest way to seek revenge. Posting pics and shaming someone requires very basic understanding of the internet.”

A 22-year-old college student from Udupi, Karnataka, also sought police help after her ex-boyfriend put up her photographs and videos onlineafter they broke up.

“Posting of personal sex videos is a common way to blackmail your lover. No wonder, even though dating and matrimonial sites have made things easier for individuals to come together, it is seen with great suspicion and caution,” says Aishwarya Kumar, who has been a victim of online revenge.