Philippine-based syndicate engaged in online ‘sextortion’ busted

The Interpol and Philippine authorities – with help of Facebook – tracked down and busted a syndicate that extorted from foreigners who had engaged in cybersex. At least 58 suspects involved in the scheme in various locations: Taguig City in the national capital region, Manila’s neighboring province of Laguna, and the Bicol region further down south of Manila. The international probe was prompted by the suicide of 17-year-old British national Daniel Perry in July 2013, after an online syndicate threatened to upload his sex video if he didn’t pay up. Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima said they seized 300 electronic devices during the raids conducted overnight from April 30-May 1. The scheme involved suspects creating fake accounts on Facebook, posing as “young attractive females” who invited foreigners to engage in cybersex with them, without informing the “clients” the Skype conversations were recorded. The suspects then threatened to upload the videos online unless a victim paid up anywhere between $500 and $2,000.

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