Dutch Police Launch Social Media Campaign to Identify Victims in International Sextortion Case

DORDRECHT, Netherlands — Dutch police have launched a social media campaign to identify and provide assistance to girls and young women targeted in a sextortion case. The victims, some located in the United States, were coerced into sharing explicit images and then blackmailed online.

The campaign includes contact information for seeking help and informs potential victims that the suspect is in custody.

S. Homeland Security Investigations. It has confirmed that more than 50 girls and women, aged 13 to 20, were victimized in at least six countries: the United States, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Montenegro, and Canada.

The suspect, a 22-year-old Dutch man identified as Damian A. under Dutch privacy rules, was arrested in early 2023 and his trial started on Wednesday in Dordrecht.

the suspect's lawyer state that he has confessed to the offenses.

A psychiatric assessment determined that the suspect has an autism spectrum disorder and a sexual sadism disorder. He faces charges of online assault, online rape, extortion, and producing, possessing, and distributing child pornography, with prosecutors requesting a nine-year prison sentence and compulsory psychiatric treatment.

The suspect used the online moniker 'Turpien' and allegedly tricked victims into sharing explicit images by posing as a woman of their age.

He then threatened to distribute the images unless they sent more, and in some cases, ordered victims to perform degrading acts, including writing 'Owned by Turpien' on their bodies. Material on his devices indicated additional unidentified victims, and he allegedly sold images to others.

van der Kolk from the Rotterdam Police Sexual Crimes Team stated that the experiences of the victims were extreme and intense, and that more victims may exist.

S. and Dutch authorities. Eben Roberts, Homeland Security Investigations attache in The Hague, noted that such partnerships are essential for investigating and prosecuting online offenders across borders.

S. Know2Protect initiative addressing online child exploitation. Prosecutors reported a 46% increase in online sex crimes in the Netherlands in 2023 compared to the previous year, totaling more than 3,000 cases.

A verdict in the trial is expected within weeks, after which further victim support measures may be implemented.