Limerick man blackmailed over sex act video
GARDAI in Limerick are investigating a report of harmful communication after a man was blackmailed using a video in which he was seen performing a sexual act.
A male in his early twenties received a friend request on Facebook from a female who was not known to him.
He accepted the friend request and proceeded to engage in text communication with the female via Facebook messenger.
This female initiated a video call with the male in which he was in a state of undress and the male proceeded to engage in a sexual act.
The female then terminated the call and began text messaging the male demanding money or she would share the content of the video call that she had recorded.
The female made repeated threats via Facebook messenger and Google chat about sharing the intimate video and continued to demand money.
Thankfully, the man contacted Gardai in Askeaton and they are investigating.
Sergeant Ber Leetch, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street Garda Station says there has been an increase in the reporting of such incidents.
"In the words of the law, it is an offence if a person distributes, publishes or threatens to distribute or publish an intimate image of another person.
"This is without that other person’s consent and the intent is to cause harm to, or being reckless as to whether or not harm is caused to the other person.
"Do not pay over any money, if you do, the demands will never stop and they may share the images anyway.
"Of course, it is important to say that you must not share intimate images online in the first place because if you do, you lose control of them immediately."