Two Nigerian males accused of a social media sextortion that led a 16-year-old Australian boy to die by suicide presupposed to be a “scantily-clad” white girl, police say.
The alleged scammers, present in a Nigerian slum, have been charged with sextortion offences in March after a joint investigation between Australian, South African and Nigerian authorities.
The Australian sufferer, whose dad and mom don’t need to be recognized, took his life in 2023 after he shared private pictures with the scammers, who pretended to be a European-looking girl, police allege.
It is alleged the cyber criminals threatened to share the boy’s pictures along with his household and associates if he didn’t pay $500.
Sextortion is a criminal offense that includes on-line blackmail, the place the sufferer is lured or coerced into sharing personal or express pictures or movies of themselves with the perpetrator, who is commonly pretending to be a peer or potential romantic curiosity.
As soon as the perpetrator has the content material, they then threaten to share it with the sufferer’s associates, household or group if they don’t pay the blackmail.
Detective superintendent Matthew Craft mentioned at a Monday presser the investigation concerned NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police and the FBI. The arrests have been made with the help of South African and Nigerian authorities.
Craft mentioned the boy interacted with the scammers for six or seven hours after they used a “scattergun” method to supply targets.
Police didn’t disclose the social media website the place the sufferer met the alleged perpetrators however warned that sextortionists use a number of platforms to interact with victims.
“Each social media platform has been impacted,” Craft mentioned.
“It was definitely two males who have been partaking our sufferer purporting to be a scantily-clad feminine. In my opinion taking a look at her she’d be European of some description,” Craft mentioned on Monday.
“It is all the time the case that there is some scantily-clad feminine in numerous states of undress that is supplied and that must be a set off.
“In the event you’re partaking with somebody and rapidly the dialog turns into sexualised it is a possibility so that you can maybe disengage.”
Main spike in sextortion circumstances
He warned younger Australians to be looking out for sex-based e-scammers after a 400 per cent spike in sextortion circumstances prior to now 18 months, particularly concentrating on younger males.
“The excellent news is persons are reporting it and there are steps we are able to take that will help you earlier than it goes too far,” Craft mentioned.
“We wish younger folks to proceed to report these circumstances and to by no means be embarrassed to speak to police.”
The alleged offenders shall be handled in Nigeria the place native authorities can prosecute for Australia-based offences, police say.
Craft mentioned there was “clear” proof gathered by Nigerian authorities on the arrested males’s units that indicated there have been victims apart from the Australian teenager.
The federal authorities warns that web fraud, together with faux on-line friendship, courting and marriage schemes usually originates in Nigeria, an impoverished west African nation of 218 million folks.
Readers searching for disaster help can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Name Again Service on 1300 659 467 and Children Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for younger folks aged as much as 25). Extra data and help with psychological well being is offered at and on 1300 22 4636.
helps folks from culturally and linguistically various backgrounds.
