Abu Dhabi Police has warned internet users against online extortion gangs who dupe victims by recording explicit videos and images and then blackmailing them.
Colonel Rashid Mohammed Bu Rasheed, Director of Criminal Investigations Department at the police said they registered 33 complaints of cyber blackmailing during the first six months of 2014.
He added that the gangs specifically target young males through social media websites and lure them into engaging in lewd acts, using images and videos and dubbed voices of girls as baits.
"They then threaten victims of posting their indecent footage or images online or sending them to their lists of families and friends unless they transfer money to them," he added.
Colonel Bu Rasheed said that addressing cybercrimes requires awareness and cooperation among different components of the community.