FIA busts gang of online harassers, blackmailers

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi FIA Cyber Crimes Circle has arrested a four-member organised gang involved in online sexual harassment and blackmailing.

A comprehensive investigation has been launched against the accused who were harassing and blackmailing minor girls through social media apps and objectionable content.

According to the authorities, Rawalpindi FIA Cyber Crimes Circle has arrested Hammad Kiyani, Talal Mustafa, Muhammad Noman and Hafiz Muhammad Hasnain, who are all members of an organised gang involved in harassing and blackmailing minor girls through social media using modern technology in a raid in Rawalpindi.

Mobile phones were seized from the accused's possession. They were found involved in blackmailing girls through WhatsApp and Snapchat. Social media accounts and objectionable content of the victims were also recovered from the seized mobile phones.

According to the authorities, in one particular case, the accused were also found involved in blackmailing a victim and her family and had been doing so for several months.

They were blackmailing the victim and had extorted Rs2.3 million and six tolas of gold from her family. They used the vehicle which was obtained through blackmail to collect the extorted money.