In the name of “love”, some women are willing to post compromising pictures of themselves on the Internet.
After the relationships have turned sour, those women often found themselves being blackmailed by their ex-lovers. MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau head Datuk Michael Chong said seven such cases were referred to him last year.
Chong said two women lost almost RM85,000 when they were made to pay their ex-partners to stop them from circulating their nude photos.
“One of the victims was blackmailed by her Australian ex-boyfriend, who demanded US$10,000 (RM31,700). He also threatened to share pictures of the victim in compromising positions with their friends.
“The man’s friend later used those same pictures and a video clip to extort more money from the victim,” said Chong at his office yesterday. In the other case, the victim was forced to pay RM50,000 to her foreign boyfriend.
Chong urged the public to think properly before sharing nude pictures of themselves with their lovers.
"You can't compromise your integrity. Jealousy can make your partner change. "I have been advising the public, particularly youngsters, to not share nude pictures of themselves. But you'd be surprised to know that there are those who would still do it in the name of 'love' and 'lust'."
In 2010, the bureau received eight similar complaints. However, most victims were men. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man faced humiliation when he was blackmailed on a social media site. The man, identified only as Liew, said he was alerted by a friend on Dec 27 that his personal details, together with a picture of him, had been uploaded by an unidentified person on the site.
"The person went by the name Kitty Chan. 'She' accused me of being a playboy and said I left her after impregnating her. "I suspect this could be the work of a person I know. We fell in love with the same girl but she chose me." Chong said: "Families have been broken up because of this.
"It is a cowardly act. If you have a problem, talk it over man-to-man. Don't discredit a person over the Internet, especially when it false."
