A 20-year-old woman from Nakabangwe Compound in Itezhi-tezhi has become the latest victim of a Facebook scam after being deceived into sending a nude photo to a man she believed was her former schoolmate.
According to police, the incident occurred on Tuesday when the woman began chatting with a Facebook account bearing the name and profile picture of her old classmate.
During their casual exchange, the imposter joked about their school days and teased her for once having small breasts, later daring her to prove they had grown by sending a picture.
Trusting that she was speaking to someone she knew, the unsuspecting woman sent the nude photo.
The following day, she was contacted by another account under the name Wilson Musonda, which claimed to possess her nude image and demanded K2,000 for it not to be leaked online. When she declined to pay, the blackmailer threatened to expose the photo publicly.
Terrified, the woman reported the matter to the police, suspecting that her former classmate’s Facebook account had either been hacked or duplicated by the scammer.
Southern Province Police Commissioner Auxensio Daka confirmed the case, stating that investigations are underway to trace the suspect and determine how the image was obtained.
“We urge the public to be cautious when engaging on social media and to refrain from sharing intimate photos or information with individuals whose identities they cannot confirm,” said Daka.
He further advised victims of online blackmail to report such incidents immediately instead of giving in to extortion demands.
Police have also warned that cases of cyber extortion are increasing, especially those targeting young women, as scammers exploit social media familiarity and trust to ensnare victims.
