Interpol, Philippines bust cyber extortion network

Published May 2, 2014 8:01am ET



MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine police, backed by Interpol, have arrested dozens of suspected members of an online extortion syndicate who duped hundreds of victims worldwide into exposing themselves in front of webcams or engaging in lewd chats, including a Scottish teenager who committed suicide after being blackmailed, officials said Friday.

At least 58 Filipino suspects in the capital, Manila, and three other regions were arrested this week after investigators from Interpol, the U.S. Homeland Security Department and police from three other countries traced online chats from some of the victims’ computers, Philippine National Police chief Allan Purisima said.

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