Sharjah Police have dismantled an international cybercrime gang accused of using malicious photo filters to steal private images from social media influencers and celebrities, then blackmailing victims across 14 countries.
Lieutenant Colonel Saqr Ahmed, head of the Digital Crimes Section at Sharjah Police, disclosed details of the operation during the Al Shurti programme on Sharjah TV. The business also allegedly associated its branding with official institutions to appear trustworthy. Police also linked the network to outside groups posing as technical support providers. Here’s how police help retrieve it )
The investigation began with a complaint from just one victim and eventually led police to identify and arrest members of the alleged network, Gulf News reported on October 29. Following the initial complaint, specialist officers at Sharjah Police’s digital intelligence laboratory examined electronic evidence, traced suspicious accounts and connected the activities of suspected offenders. (Also read: Indian woman in Dubai accidentally throws away gold worth ₹ 12 lakh.
He said women were among those most frequently targeted. The suspects operated behind the façade of an online company offering social media verification badges, more followers and account protection services, according to police.
