Lae Police probe Facebook blackmail

POLICE are looking for the administrator of a Facebook site who has allegedly blackmailed a woman after posting her picture along with a porn image claiming it was her.

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said the woman reported the matter to police on Monday after the man demanded money from her, accusing her of starring in the porn image.

“The woman was notified on Facebook with the picture and asked to pay some money so that the picture wouldn’t be posted on a PNG pornographic page on Facebook,” Wagambie said.

“The victim went to police and laid a complaint, saying she is not the one in the photo.

“She is a local woman who resides in Lae.”

Wagambie said police were working with their counterparts from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to try to track down the administrator of the Facebook page.

He said it was not the first time such an incident  had happened as there were instances in the past when people “photoshoped” other people’s faces and pasted them on some other characters and blackmailed them for money.

“Internet and Facebook are good tools to use for sharing information, do business or to broaden knowledge in doing research,” Wagambie said. 

“Social media allows people or companies to create, share, or exchange information, career interests, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks. 

“However, there are lunatics out there who continue to tarnish other people’s reputation.”

Wagambie urged people to use social media responsibly and not to degrade other people for other reasons such as obtaining money from them. The National