VICTIMS of sextortion should avoid paying their blackmailers and instead lodge a police report, experts said.

They said once the victims pay, the syndicates will keep extorting them.

Sextortion is the practice of extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity.

Recently, a 20-year-old Malaysian man committed suicide after he was extorted RM1,000 for sending naked videos of himself to a woman who is believed to be part of a sextortion syndicate.

It is understood that the woman had extorted RM1,000 from the victim, but she did not stop. She continued threatening him to send another RM2,000 or the videos would be leaked online.

MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau chief Low Guo Nan said at least one or two victims turn up at his office every month seeking help after falling victim to such syndicates.

“The youngest victim was a teenager, while the oldest was in her 50s. The syndicate asked for RM5,000 to RM6,000,” Low told The Malaysian Insight.

“Paying the syndicate won’t solve the problem as the culprits will continue extorting the victims.

“The only thing you can do is block the contact, lodge a police report and be mentally prepared, in case the video leaks online.”

Low said he had recently dealt with a 10-year-old child who had fallen victim to the syndicate.

“I’m glad the child was willing to tell his family. But, some young people may not as they are afraid of being reprimanded.

“Families, however, play an important part in such instances so that victims have someone to turn to.”

Yew Jia Haur, DAP’s Federal Territories Public Complaints Bureau chairman, said sextortion syndicates have been around for a long time.

“Even at the height of Covid-19, during the movement-control order, there were already cases,” Yew said.

Yew said the syndicate usually sends the victims messages on social media.

Cybercriminals have been known to contact their victims through online sex and dating platforms before asking them to download a mobile app via a hyperlink to engage in “naked chats”.

The app turns out to be malicious in that it was specifically designed to steal the contact lists from the affected phones.

The syndicate then blackmails victims by threatening to send the nude videos to their relatives and friends.

“The victims will only know about what happened after they are alerted by their friend. This is when the extortion starts.”

Victims should call the police, change their phone numbers and delete all their social media accounts when this happens, Yew said.

He has helped victims of sextortions aged between 14 and 60.

“I would suggest the public not save the contact details of their loved ones as ‘father, mother or dear’ in case their phones get hacked, the syndicate won’t know who to look for,” he said.

Tan Chee Seng, a psychology counsellor, said reducing the use of mobile phones could lead to fewer scams, but added that it does not solve the problem completely.

He said parents should educate their children and tell them the risks involved in being part of such activities.

“Parents may also not understand the premise of sextortion, so it is hard for them to teach their children,” Tan said.

“It is important that they keep abreast of current affairs and prevent their children from being exposed to such risks.”

Tan also advised victims not to take brash actions.

“The pressure could make them desperate, but they should not be brash.

“They should face the consequences of their action, tell their families what happened and get through it together.” – September 29, 2022.