PHILIPPINES: Philippine authorities, backed by Interpol, arrest 58 suspected members of an online cyber "sextortion" syndicate

Record ID: 693043

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Philippine authorities, backed by Interpol, arrest 58 suspected members of an online cyber "sextortion" syndicate
  • Date: 2nd May 2014
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (MAY 2, 2014) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS INTERPOL DIRECTOR SANJAY VIRMANI, UNITED KINGDOM'S AMBASSOR TO THE PHILIPPINES ASIF AHMAD, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF ALAN PURISIMA, PHILIPPINE ANTI-CYBERCRIME GROUP DIRECTOR GILBERT SOSA AND U.S.IMMIGRATIONS AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS ATTACHE, WILLIAM WALLRAPP SEATE
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVAEAP64U9J06AL2I61GMTP1M0GT
  • Story Text: The Philippine National Police and International Police had dismantled international "sextortion" operations during simultaneous raids in seven areas, arresting 58 people and seizing 250 laptops and computers, officials said on Friday (May 2).
    The Filipino criminal groups prey on foreigners overseas who engage in cybersex activities and extort money from them on threats they will upload their sex videos, said Alan Purisima, the national police chief.
    Purisima said "Operation Strikeback" was aimed at countering the Philippines' label as the "sextortion" capital of the world and involved working closely with Interpol in monitoring social media, specific IP addresses and following the money trail.
    He said the syndicates find their victims in social media sites and porn websites, where they befriend and invite them to engage in cybersex activities.
    "After getting acquainted with the victims and successful exchange of online chat conversations, they invite and further entice their would-be victims to use video calls to engage in cybersex. And this will be recorded, unknown to the victim," Purisima told reporters.
    Police said the "sextortion" syndicates have collected millions of pesos (thousands of dollars) from hundreds of victims based in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States and United Kingdom in the last three to four years.
    The extortion led to a suicide by a 17 year-old British boy, Gary Cunningham of the Scotland Yard said at a news conference in Manila, adding there was strong evidence the boy had a chat with somebody from the Philippines.
    The syndicates use a number of internet platforms, not only social media, like Facebook, said Cunningham.
    "We have progressed investigations over here. Several arrests have been made, and it is our job to act as observers to identify any evidence, which can take us that step forward, to proving a case against individuals responsible for the death of Daniel Perry," he said.
    Purisima said the "sextortion" syndicates demanded from $500 to $2,000 from victims in exchange for deleting cybersex material taken from them during cybersex sessions. If they refused to pay, the material would be uploaded to their families and friends' social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter.
    Interpol Director Sanjay Virmani said the operation showed there was no hiding place for criminals.
    "The scale of these extortion networks is massive and run with just one goal in mind -- to make money regardless of the terrible emotional damage they inflict on their victims. The internet is a reflection of society -- both good and bad -- and just as in the real world, police are committed to catching criminals. This is equally true for the virtual world. This operation shows that there is no hiding place, and no matter where criminals carry out their crimes or try to hide behind the anonymity of the internet, law enforcement is equally determined in their efforts to track them down and bring them to justice," he said.
    Philippine Anti-Cybercrime group director Gilbert Sosa said the operation continued as there were further suspects to pursue.
    "This operation does not end in this operation, but this continues because we still have a lot of targets and suspects to be pursued," Sosa said.
    Purisima said some of the "sextortion" groups operate like call centres where the operator hires men and women, sitting in rows of computer cubicles, to lure in foreign clients.
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