Two men have been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly attempting to extort an Australian teenager by threatening to publish compromising photos of him online, which tragically led to the boy’s suicide.
The suspects engaged with the teenager online and demanded Aus$500 (US$330) under threat of releasing personal photos.
This form of cybercrime, known as sextortion, involves scammers posing as romantic interests who coerce victims into sending explicit images and then blackmail them with the threat of exposure.
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Australian authorities collaborated with counterparts in South Africa and Nigeria to locate and apprehend the suspects in a Nigerian slum.
Local authorities in Nigeria have the jurisdiction to prosecute based on Australian laws regarding such offenses.
Commander Helen Schneider of the Australian Federal Police emphasized that the sextortion of minors is a transnational crime, underscoring the significance of international cooperation in combating this type of exploitation.
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