A local man lost 32,000 patacas in an online sexual extortion scam on Monday, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Leng Kam Lon said during a press conference yesterday.
According to Leng, the 30-year-old victim was contacted by an unknown woman on an instant messaging app. After a brief chat, the woman claimed she had sent some “sexy” photos via a hyperlink. The victim then clicked on the link and, under the woman’s instructions, downloaded an application to access the photos.
The victim told the PJ that as he was unable to access the photos, the woman suggested switching to another instant messaging app, Telegram, for a nude chat. Having realised his mistake, the victim disconnected almost immediately. Nevertheless, the woman sent him his mobile phone contact list and a video compiled of nude photos with his face photoshopped on them. She then threatened to send the video to everyone on his contact list unless he paid her a certain amount of money.
After being instructed to switch to another instant messaging app, QQ, a man contacted the victim and demanded 32,200 patacas to be transferred to his bank account. After forcing him to delete the transaction history, the man then asked for another 12,800 patacas. Not having enough money at his disposal, the victim refused and soon realised that he could report this to the police as blackmail, Leng said.
In a similar case, another local man, aged 31, was also a victim in an online ‘sextortion’ scam on the same instant messaging app, Telegram, on Monday, Leng said. The victim, however, did not lose any money as he immediately blocked the swindler’s number and reported the case to the police.
The victim was also contacted by a woman on a messaging app who initiated an intimate video call, Leng said. He likewise provided his personal details, which allowed the fraudster to obtain his contact list. With his profile captured in the video call, the fraudster then made an explicit video and demanded money.
The police have reported a rise in cybercrime since the first quarter (Q1) of this year. The Judiciary Police advise anyone encountering fraud to call the anti-scam hotline 8800 7777 or the crime report hotline 993 when scammed or blackmailed.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Leng Kam Lon looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference at the PJ headquarters in Zape.
– Photo: William Chan
