(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Three held for threatening to post her morphed photos if she doesnt pay Dh30000
Dubai — Behind most online blackmail attempts on women there could be jilted lovers. This is proved once again in the case of an Asian woman who was stalked on her Twitter account by not just one but at least three men. These men threatened to upload her morphed pictures on porn websites if she did not pay them Dh30000 the police have revealed.
Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri Assitant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation of the Dubai Police said in January the woman reported that some persons had been threatening on her Twitter account and over the phone saying they would publish her photos on porn websites.
Immediately the police’s cyber patrols started monitoring traffic on her online accounts and managed to identify the suspects. One of them posted a woman’s nude picture morphed with her face from one of her old photographs on her twitter account. The person also posted a message with it threatening to publish such photos on other websites if she did not pay the demanded money.
After getting permission from the Public Prosecution the police laid a trap and arrested three suspects. One of them was found to be the woman’s former boyfriend who had her old photographs which he sent to his friends to spoil her reputation after she refused to marry him.
Dubai Police launch drive
Maj-Gen Al Mansouri said 80 per cent of the culprits behind blackmailing are people who want to take revenge or make quick money.
On the instructions of Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police the force has launched a campaign in coordination with Etisalat to combat online blackmailing. Under this the police are delivering awareness lectures at schools universities places where youths gather and also among parents to educate them on the dangers of online communication channels.
Since the campaign’s launch three weeks ago the police have received a number of calls from schools to give awareness lectures to spread awareness among students about the risks of messaging or sharing their personal photographs on the social media. The lectures also advise them to call the police on toll-free number 80043 if they suspect any kind of cyber crime or if they receive threats or come to know someone is being targeted.
He said the police will take action against those who misuse the social media. He called on the public to inform the police if any of them is blackmailed with any kind of demand.