Two folks have been arrested in Nigeria over an alleged sextortion try of an Australian schoolboy who took his personal life.
Australian police say the teenage sufferer had traded express pictures with an individual on-line earlier than they started making threats and demanding cash.
After a world investigation, the pair allegedly accountable have been tracked down in Nigeria, the place they’ll face court docket.
Police say sextortion – notably of younger folks – is dramatically rising.
Particulars of the boy’s age or the place he lived in New South Wales (NSW) haven’t been launched publicly to guard his household’s privateness.
New South Wales Police described the alleged extortionists as “younger males” and stated they’d threatened to ship pictures to {the teenager}’s family and friends if he didn’t pay them A$500 (£260; $330).
“The messages are horrific. They’re aggressive and put a number of strain on the boy to pay the cash,” the police drive’s cyber-crime commander, Matthew Craft, advised the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).
The boy died by suicide on the identical night, late final 12 months.
Australian detectives labored with their counterparts in South Africa and Nigeria to hint the suspected perpetrators to a slum in Nigeria with a inhabitants of over 25 million folks.
Proof that the pair had additionally tried to extort different folks was discovered on their telephones, in accordance with the SMH. They’ve been charged over the alleged extortion of the Australian boy, however not his demise.
There have been a number of instances in Canada and the US lately of youngsters who’ve killed themselves after being focused by sextortion plots.
Det Supt Craft stated his workforce had seen a “big spike” in sextortion instances and has appealed for anybody focused to contact police.
“[They] are up practically 400% within the final 18 months,” he stated in an announcement.
“We would like younger folks to proceed to report these instances, and to by no means be embarrassed to speak to police.
“Sextortion is a really actual crime… These arrests in Nigeria present simply how far police are prepared to go to hunt justice on behalf of our younger neighborhood.”
If you’re feeling emotionally distressed and would love particulars of organisations within the UK which provide recommendation and assist, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.
If you’re in Australia, you may name Lifeline at 131114, Children Helpline at 1800 55 18000 or go to the Past Blue web site.
