A 26-year-old man was identified and arrested yesterday in Gozo in connection with the online exploitation of individuals through the use of fake social media profiles.
The arrest follows a joint investigation by various Police units into an individual who was allegedly using a fake name and persona to lure victims—predominantly minors—for sexual purposes via social media platforms.
Deception and Fake Profiles
The suspect, a 26-year-old Gozitan, allegedly posed as a 17-year-old boy online. To conceal his true identity and make his accounts appear authentic, he used stolen photographs taken from the profiles of other individuals.
Over a period of time, the suspect contacted numerous people, carefully gaining their trust and establishing friendships. Once a bond was formed, he manipulated and convinced the victims to send him indecent photographs.
Extortion and Minor Victims
Police have confirmed that the vast majority of the victims in this case are minors. The youngest identified victim is a 10 year old girl.
In some cases, the suspect’s abuse escalated into severe extortion. He allegedly demanded that the minors perform sexual acts on video. If they refused, he threatened to distribute the explicit videos and photographs to their schools and within their local communities.
The Police Investigation
The case gained momentum after two men approached the police in the days leading up to the arrest. They reported that an individual using the same fake name had stolen their personal photos to create fraudulent profiles.
Acting on this information, the Police raided the suspect’s residence in Victoria (Rabat), Gozo, and confiscated several electronic devices. Further digital investigations definitively linked the confiscated devices to the fake profiles, confirming that the arrested man was the creator behind the deceptive accounts.
Court Arraignment
The 26-year-old suspect is scheduled to be arraigned in the Gozo Court this morning at around 11:00 AM, where he will appear before Magistrate Dr. Jean Paul Grech to answer for his crimes.
