Couple nabbed for sextortion

The Philippine National Police arrested a couple for alleged online extortion, according to Emil Sumangil’s “24 Oras” report on Friday.

Police officers arrested one of the suspects at a remittance center where the victim sent the suspects the extortion money.

The arrested suspect then revealed the location of her accomplice.

The couple allegedly conspired to extort money from the victim who they met through an online dating app.

“For a change, lalaki ang victim natin. So yung kausap niya sa dating app akala niya babae pero hindi niya alam na lalaki pala yung kausap,” said Police Lieutenant Michelle Sabino, chief of the PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG PIO).

Based on the investigation, the suspects created a fake profile and used a photo of a woman to lure the victim.

“Naging intimate sila to the point na nag-exchange sila ng photos at videos. As soon as si suspect makuha na niya yung mga explicit photos and videos ng kanyang bibiktimahin, dyan na magsisimula ang sextortion so nanghihingi siya ng pera na paghindi niya naibigay ang pera na ito iispread niya ang kanyang photos and videos,” Sabino said.

(They became intimate to the point that they exchanged photos and videos. As soon as the suspect gets the explicit photos and videos of his victim that's when the sextortion will start. So they ask for money and if he does not give the money he will spread his photos and videos.)

“Alam ko naman po yung mali ko at handa naman po akong panagutan yung nangyari sa akin. Magbabagong buhay po,” one of the suspects said.

(I know what I did was wrong and I am ready to take responsibility for what happened. I will turn a new leaf.)

The PNP-ACG said more than 40 cases of extortion were reported from January to June.

“We always remind everyone to be mindful when you send out photos and videos because you’ll never know, minsan ito yung gagamitin sayo (they might use it against you),” Sabino said.

Sabino also advised smartphone users who like to store private videos and photos in their gadgets to be more cautious. Many of the complainants reported that after they have their phones repaired, some of their private videos are suddenly spread.

“Ipapagawa ninyo yung cellphone ninyo akala niyo deleted niyo na yung mga videos o binebenta ninyo na yung mga cellphone ninyo kasi meron na kayong mga bagong cellphone. Meron mga remnants na natitira dyan na certain part of the memory na nandoon pa rin so maari siyang maaccess,” Sabino said.

(Those who would like to get their cellphones repaired think that they have deleted the videos or are considering selling their cellphones because they already have new cellphones. There's data in certain parts of the memory that are still there so it can still be accessed.) — Richa Allyssa Noriega/DVM, GMA News