Hacker turns tables on Ghaziabad scammer, exposes with live webcam hack

In a dramatic twist to a cybercrime saga, a self-styled “scambaiter” claims to have hacked into the laptop of a Ghaziabad-based man allegedly running a fake tech-support racket, capturing his panicked reaction on a live webcam feed before exposing his identity online.

The alleged scammer, identified as Manish Kumar, is accused of duping thousands of unsuspecting victims by posing as an Anti-Virus Guard (AVG) support agent and promoting fake Google ads. His operation reportedly relied on convincing targets to grant remote access to their computers, where he fabricated software issues and charged hefty sums for bogus “support.”

The tables turned when an X user, who goes by the handle NanoBaiter and is known for tracking down scammers, engaged with Kumar while pretending to be a potential victim. “He thought he was in control, but I was about to flip the scam on him… exploiting one of the biggest weaknesses in cybersecurity: the human vulnerability,” the hacker wrote.

According to his account, after securing Kumar’s IP address, NanoBaiter accessed his files, monitored his activity in real time, and even switched on the webcam. “When I opened the live webcam feed, he instantly panicked and covered the camera with his hand—but it was already too late,” the hacker recounted.

The vigilante went on to download sensitive documents allegedly stored on Kumar’s system, including his Aadhaar card, PAN card, and passport, and claimed to have matched the IDs with the man’s live image. He tagged the Ghaziabad and Uttar Pradesh Police in his post, urging action.

As the exposé went viral, social media erupted with support for the hacker. One user wrote, “This apartment is actually in front of my house. Never knew a scammer lived there. @Uppolice @ghaziabadpolice, time to hunt him down.” Another hailed NanoBaiter as a “supersleuth,” adding: “You’re doing work that the government won’t. We’re grateful for your skills.”

The alleged scammer’s fate now hinges on whether authorities act on the evidence brought to light by an unlikely cyber vigilante.