Detectives from Cybercrime Squad are investigating a series of reports of compromised social media accounts eventuating in the blackmail of the account holders.
Offenders use compromised accounts to gain access to the accounts of female victims, before obtaining saved data such as intimate photos or videos to blackmail the victim.
Often the victim will be contacted by a friend to say they are locked out of their account and they have nominated them to receive a message with a verification code to unlock the account, however the code unlocks the victim/s account.
Once this happens, the offender searches the victim’s account for any compromising or intimate images or material they can use to blackmail the victim.
This blackmail may include requests to move to other online platforms or provide further intimate images.
Detectives have identified at least 34 victims believed to be linked to a series of offending, dating back to July 2019.
It appears the offender is not known to victims.
Investigators are appealing for public assistance and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
If you have been the victim of cybercrime, speak to police if you have concerns about a matter, or use online forums such as ReportCyber and the ESafety Commissioner which will assess the report and provide them to police.
Social media users should never pass on any authentication codes for an account. If you receive a request of this nature, call your friend to verify the authenticity of the request, and report any compromised accounts.
Do not assist any user to gain access to an account, even if it appears to be a known friend. Account recovery can only be done by the account user directly with the platform administrator.
Carefully consider what data you store or send via social media platforms, as this can be accessed by hackers.
Where possible, do not upload, save or forward any intimate pictures or sensitive information.
Anyone with knowledge of these incidents and those responsible is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Boris Buick, Cybercrime Squad:
‘If you are subject to any type of concerning behaviour like this online, we would urge you to contact police and discuss the circumstances with us.
‘Anyone who contacts police will be supported and treated with respect, courtesy and dignity.
‘We believe that these matters are under reported and that can be for a range of reasons, including fear or embarrassment, and sometimes feeling unsure if an offence has occurred or if they will be believed.
‘I want to assure the community that Victoria Police is committed to investigating these matters and holding offenders to account.
‘And as is your choice, if you do choose to share intimate pictures via social media accounts, we would encourage you to review your privacy settings and ensure they’re as stringent as possible.
‘We encourage anyone who has been subject to concerning behaviour such as this to speak to police – even if you do not wish to make a formal report, we can still assist you in seeking further support.’
