Those being blackmailed over nudes advised to fight back

KUALA LUMPUR: Victims being blackmailed over their nude pictures should not comply with the threats, but come forward to combat their blackmailers.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said once victims started yielding to the blackmailers’ wishes, the threats and blackmail would never end.

“A lot of this involves paying money so that the nudes aren’t posted online.

“I have met people who were so desperate that they considered suicide to escape,” said Chong.

The veteran social worker said he had received seven such blackmail cases so far this year. Of the victims, four were women.

In one case, a male human resources executive, known only as “Ng”, was approached via social media by a pimp to work part-time as a gigolo, said Chong.

“Ng paid RM1,400 for ‘ introduction’ fees and other services to one David, and was asked to strip so that the clients could see his body first. He did as told,” said Chong, adding that the blackmail started that same evening.

Housewife Eveline Gan, 22, came forward to relate her experience as a blackmail victim of a Hong Kong man called “Xiao You”.

“I got to know him via a phone app four years ago, and we communicated via WeChat for about two years before we stopped.

“In April, he contacted me and demanded to have a video call. He asked me to strip, which I did,” said Gan.

Asked why she agreed to the request, Gan said she had had a quarrel with her husband at the time.

The same man then threatened Gan for two more naked video calls.

“After he demanded the third naked video call, I confessed to my husband and he brought me to file a report and see Chong,” she said.