Teen girl duped into sending nude photos on Telegram in health scam
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Hasbullah Abd Rahman said the teenager had been tricked into believing she was participating in a virtual health screening for cervical and breast cancer.
He said the victim was instructed to submit personal and family information, along with several nude images, allegedly for medical examination purposes.
"The suspect convinced the victim that the procedure only required her photographs. The victim complied, believing it to be a legitimate request from a medical professional.
"Upon realising she had been scammed, the teenager lodged a police report out of fear that the images might be shared online," he said in a statement yesterday.
He added that police have so far received two related reports, and investigations are ongoing under Section 15(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.
He also urged parents, educators, and the general public to remain vigilant and proactive in educating children about the dangers of sharing personal information or images online.
"This case highlights the critical need for awareness, especially among young people, about digital safety and online predators.
"We urge parents and schools to continuously remind children not to share personal data or images with strangers online," he said.
He added that the public is also advised to activate two-step verification on messaging apps like Telegram to protect their social media accounts from unauthorised access.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Inspector Nur Munawarah Ahmad at 011-1624 0391, the Manjung IPD Operations Room at 05-688 6222, or via the WhatsApp hotline at 017-682 8005 to assist with the investigation.
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