UAE: Police save teenager from online blackmailer who threatened to publish her private photos

Abu Dhabi authorities have handled the case of a teenage girl who was blackmailed by an unknown person she met online.

According to Lt. Col. Ahmed Mubarak Al Qubaisi, head of the Child Crimes Department at Abu Dhabi Police's Criminal Investigations Department, the unknown person threatened to publish the girl's private photos on social media if she didn't send him money.

The officer said that the teenager had befriended the predator, who lives outside the UAE, through an electronic game she was playing. Their relationship progressed, and the pair began exchanging photos and videos on social media. The man later threatened to post them online if she didn't send him money. She then reported the matter to police, and the team acted immediately to save her before she sent him the money.

"The full responsibility rests with parents to provide protection for their children, and to pay attention to the electronic games they play," said Al Qubaisi.

"Parents should keep a close eye on their children's internet use to prevent them falling victim to the scam."

Abu Dhabi Police recently said that through its "Our country is a trust" program, it has responded to several cases and reports of online crimes against children and adolescents.

Al Qubaisi noted that online predators usually monitor children and teenagers' activity on electronic games and various social media sites, including Snapchat and Instagram.

Authorities have always warned that these online predators encourage vulnerable teenagers to share explicit pictures of themselves on social media before blackmailing them. They also warn that young women are the most vulnerable to online blackmail, as they fall victim to cyber criminals due to fear.

According to authorities, some of the victims of such blackmail are reluctant to report the criminals to the authorities as they are scared they would face charges for committing wrongful acts. This sometimes leads to the blackmailers assaulting the victims or extorting money from them.

- ismail@khaleejtimes.com