Naked pics scam spreads

THE “naked pics for cash scam” has widened, with the culprits obtaining naked pictures taken by the victims, and sourcing them off stolen hardware or phone data.

Family members are also being photoshopped into naked images of the scammers’ target.

Weekend Argus’s sister paper the Independent on Saturday reported recently on the scam, operating largely in KZN and Gauteng, in which people were blackmailed into paying blackmailers to not release fake naked images.

More than 300 people have come forward, claiming to have been caught in the scam.

The South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) reported that people were allegedly contacted via Facebook and WhatsApp, supposedly by an attractive woman or man, who offered to send naked pictures in return for explicit pictures of the person they target.

However, when the target refuses to do so, the blackmailers send the target naked images that appear to be of the victim, along with threats that the images would be posted on social media unless an immediate payment was made.

SACCW spokesperson Mike Venter said the organisation had been inundated with calls from victims of the scam.

“After a recent appeal to the public via media for victims of extortion to come forward, SACCW phone lines and emails have been bombarded with victim reports,” said Venter.

He said some photos had been photoshopped to include family members, admitting that some pictures would be sent in trust, but then reshared later.

“Incidents of cellphones that have been sold and have not been cleared, still having private pictures and contacts, have also been reported.

“These pictures – once the owners have been traced by contacting those in the address book and tricking them into supplying the identity of those in the pictures – once again become material used in extortion,” Venter explained.

He urged people to ensure that their Facebook accounts were restricted to not allow everyone to see friend lists, personal contact details and photographs.

“Take care who you are socialising with on social media groups such as WhatsApp. Do not share personal information with someone you have not met or do not trust. Ensure any computer or cell sold is wiped clear,” he said.