INTERPOL-led operation “Strikeback” targeted online sextortion cases all around the world and led to the arrest of 58 people in the Philippines. The term sextortion describes a form of sexual exploitation in which the authors threaten the release of victims’ sexual information or photos. According to INTERPOL, blackmail requests in the cases investigated range between 500 USD and 15.000 USD.

INTERPOL Digital Crime Centre (IDCC) launched the operation in late 2013 and in cooperation with Police Scotland, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Philippines Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime, the UK’s National Crime Agency CEOP Command, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Singapore Police Force. The investigators identified victims in a number of jurisdictions, including Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States. Potential victims were also identified in Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

Among other things, the operation led to the tracing of a criminal organization involved in the death of Daniel Perry. Daniel Perry was a 17-year old Scot who committed suicide by falling from a bridge in July 2013. He had been victim of blackmail operated by a Philippines-based criminal group. The group lured Perry into a Skype sexual encounter and then threatened him to release the images.

On 30 April and 1 May 2014, raids in different locations in the Philippines resulted in the arrest of 58 individuals and the seizure of 250 pieces of electronic equipment. The seized devices are likely to lead to the identification of further victims.