Manama: Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested a man for blackmailing a man into paying him 160,000 riyals (Dh156,689).
The blackmailer had threatened to post pictures and videos of the victim if he refused to pay the money.
According to Ahmad Al Abdali, the spokesperson of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the southern area of Jazan, the blackmailer used social networks to pretend he was a woman and used a female voice to trick his victim, Saudi news site Sabq reported on Wednesday.
The blackmailer was able to secure pictures and videos of the victim, then used them to pressure him into paying him the money and avoid an online scandal, Al Abdali said.
Alerted by the victim, the Commission was able to apprehend the blackmailer who was referred to the competent authorities for appropriate action, the spokesperson added.
Online users lauded the Commission for its work, but lambasted the victim for his naivety.
“Whatever the reasons presented by the imposter posing as a woman, the victim should not have fallen into the honey trap. He should not have sent his pictures or videos to a complete stranger,” one blogger posted.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have often warned people to exercise the utmost care while using social media to avoid imposters and cheaters and all kinds of cyber crime.
