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.
Philippines
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Republic of Korea
Australia
Indonesia
Malaysia
ChinaSeizure of 250 electronic items in the Philippines.
Online sexual exploitation is transnational by its nature. According to INTERPOL, its International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database contains nearly 2,500 identified victims of sexual exploitation from 41 countries. In this case, organized criminal groups easily threatened and blackmailed people residing in other countries.
A joint response by law enforcement all around the world is key to fight online sexual exploitation. The joint efforts by INTERPOL and the national authorities involved proved to be successful in identifying the authors and seizing their equipment.