The suspect was identified as Marelbis Lozano, also known as “Chucha Grande.” She was arrested in Barranquilla while in the act of extorting money from different males through social media platforms using intimate photos and videos that the victims had voluntarily given to her in the past, according to reports from the local publication CTV Barranquilla.
The Metropolitana Police in Barranquilla stated that Lozano used social media platforms to make contact with males. She used her provocative attitude to gain their attention. Once the suspect had gained their trust through digital platforms, she convinced the males to give her intimate photos and videos.
After obtaining the intimate photos and videos from the victims, Lozano then asked for money in exchange for not sharing or distributing the material that the victims had given to her. Lozano was arrested after one of the victims filed a complaint against her and provided evidence regarding the extortion process and Lozano’s modus operandi. After obtaining this information from the victim, the authorities were then able to arrest Lozano in the act while making the financial demands. After the arrest, Lozano was put in the custody of the Fiscalía General de la Nación to be charged with extortion in accordance with the Penal Code in Colombia. According to judicial sources, this is not the first case of this kind in Colombia. This is largely due to the fact that social media platforms are used to a great extent in Colombia. People often share intimate information without considering the consequences that could occur in the future. People often share intimate photos and videos with their partners without considering that they could end up being victims of digital extortion.
In Colombia, the use of intimate images or videos for the purpose of extortion of someone amounts to extortion, for which the perpetrators face prison sentences and financial sanctions. Although “sexting,” the consensual exchange of sexual content, is not illegal, the use of the content for the purpose of harming, coercing, or extorting someone can become a criminal act.
Experts on criminal law opine that the victim who shares intimate images or videos without the consent of the owner can face charges for the violation of personal data, harassment, and child pornography, depending on the content of the images.
The authorities recommend that victims of extortion through the use of intimate images and videos should:
- Do not pay any money to the perpetrators.
- Save all the messages, images, and videos exchanged.
- Report the case to the Prosecutor’s Office.
- Seek assistance from the cybercrime department.
The case of “Chucha Grande” highlights the rising incidence of sexting, which has become a tool for the commission of crimes that violate the privacy, reputation, and mental health of the victims.
The authorities again warn people to use social media responsibly and not to share intimate images and videos with strangers, for the use of technology can become a tool for the commission of more sophisticated cybercrimes.
