Thu Sep 04 03:14:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

The article details how online classified platforms like Locanto and Skokka, originally intended for legitimate buying, selling, and job searching, have become hubs for criminal activity, particularly organized prostitution, sextortion, and financial fraud in India. Police in Hyderabad and other cities have uncovered numerous prostitution rings operating through these platforms, often involving trafficked women from India and abroad. The anonymity offered by these sites, coupled with the use of international servers and masked IP addresses, makes it difficult for law enforcement to track and prosecute criminals. Police officials lament the lack of cooperation from Locanto and the challenges in regulating such platforms due to their foreign base. The article also highlights the broader issue of misuse of online platforms, including matrimonial sites and dating apps, for fraud and scams.

**News Article:**

**Online Classifieds Like Locanto Become Breeding Grounds for Prostitution, Sextortion in India**

**Hyderabad, September 4, 2025** – What started as a user-friendly way for people to buy and sell goods or locate rental and employment opportunities has reportedly become a hotbed for criminal activities. Indian law enforcement is raising concerns that online classified platforms like Locanto and Skokka have been weaponized as virtual “silk routes” for organized prostitution, sextortion, and financial fraud.

Hyderabad police have uncovered multiple instances of prostitution rings operating through these sites. Earlier this year, nine people were arrested for running a prostitution operation from a luxury hotel, where investigators discovered that women were trafficked from across India and other countries. Similar raids in 2024 revealed brothels advertised on Locanto, further demonstrating the platform’s misuse.

“The platform may have lost its sheen with genuine users, but for racketeers, that decline has been an opportunity,” said a senior official from the Hyderabad police. “It has become fertile ground for prostitution networks and scams, because anonymity is guaranteed until we conduct a raid. By then, many more victims have already been trapped.”

Police struggle to trace and prosecute criminals on these platforms due to the anonymity they provide, aided by international servers, masked IP addresses, and VPNs. Law enforcement officials have stated that it is nearly impossible to track these criminal activities, due to the advanced forensic tools it would take to pierce the layers of masking and encryption. Authorities also criticize the lack of cooperation from Locanto, which reportedly provides only basic user IDs that are of little investigative value.

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has voiced concerns about the difficulty in regulating these foreign-based platforms. “Any app can be misused, Locanto is just one example. But since it is not based in India, there is no clarity on how or on what legal grounds we can block or regulate it here. That gap has to be addressed urgently,” stated an official.

The problem extends beyond classifieds. Matrimonial portals and dating apps are also being exploited by fraudsters, with police estimating that up to 60% of profiles on these platforms are fake and used to lure victims into financial scams.

Authorities emphasize that these cases are symptomatic of a larger challenge: when a network is shut down, it often reappears under a new guise, leaving law enforcement in a constant state of catch-up.

*The Hindu* has reached out to Locanto and Skokka for comment and will update the story as they respond.

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