Thaindian News

Kuala Lumpur, Mar 17 (ANI): Hidden cameras in hotel rooms in Malaysia are being used to blackmail men and women into paying a hefty sum to prevent racy photos and videos of them from being leaked.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Datuk Michael Chong said that a local syndicate is believed to be behind the activity, and that the demand for money could go up to RM 300,000.

The syndicate hires attractive men and women to lure the victims to bed before threatening to upload the material on the Internet if they do not pay.

“Five victims of the syndicate have come forward since last year,” the Star Online quoted him as saying.

He said that many other victims contacted him but refused to reveal their identities, fearing exposure, and that most of the victims were involved in brief affairs instead of one-night stands.

Chong said one of the victims, a 68-year-old retired businessman who wanted to be known only as Vincent, met 35-year-old “Winnie” in December last year.

During their brief relationship, Winnie insisted that their sexual trysts be held in hotel rooms, and three months later, she claimed she was pregnant and demanded RM 300,000 from Vincent.

When he refused, she produced video recordings of them having sex and threatened to put it on the Internet.

“The video clearly showed Vincent engaged in the act while it hardly had any footage of the woman,” Chong said.

He added that the syndicate was careful to protect the identities of their “workers”.

Chong said the syndicate targeted successful professionals and business tycoons who could afford to pay the amount extorted. (ANI)