102 people sexually, financially exploited

The Umm Al Quwain Police have managed to assist 102 people who fell prey to sexual and financial extortion on social media platforms over an eight-month period.

The fraudsters, some of whom posed as women and girls, lured 70 women and 32 men through Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, according to informed sources within the UAQ police. "These included a doctor whom they convinced to reveal private details about himself and post indecent pictures of him on social media."

Some others managed to get private details of female victims by claiming to help them get married or get a job, they added.

The same sources explained that some of the victims, aged 20 to 25, alerted the 'Etmaen' ("No worries"), a new service of the UAQ police launched in November last year. "The special service, available round the clock in Arabic and English to protect the society against organised crimes and blackmailing, is reachable at 050-9990855 or ocdept@moi.gov.ae," the source said.

So far, the new service, which guarantees full privacy and does not require anyone to identify themselves, has handled 102 complaints from the complainants, they disclosed. "Each and every scam of the reported ones started when the victims agreed to talk to strangers either to make friends, get married or find a job on any of social media channels."

The cons posed as true friends who wanted to help the victims, exchanging pictures and information with them, they elaborated.

"When the victims were convinced, they let drop private details about them and their families, and exchanged pictures - some of which were indecent - and then they got exploited either sexually or financially."

One of the victims was a 50-year-old medic who videotaped himself naked and posted his indecent video to his young "woman friend" who finally turned out to be a man, they stated.

"The Etmaen service had, meanwhile, organised a number of lectures at schools, government and private entities to develop public awareness about the risks of communicating with strangers on social media," the official said.

Source: Khaleej Times