ALLEGATIONS of men being lured into sexual activities then later threatened with images of them in compromising positions have been reported to the Online Safety Commission.

It is claimed a group of women have been seducing men and leading them to private apartments near Nadi.

“Once inside, naked photos are taken and the victims are blackmailed with threats of sharing these images on social media platforms like Facebook,” a social media post claimed.

“Victims are then blackmailed into paying between $500 and $1000 to avoid legal action of public humiliation.”

Online Safety Commission commissioner Filipe Batiwale said these incidents were concerning and encouraged victims to report the perpetrators to relevant authorities.

“The Online Safety Commission (OSC) deals with a range of online harm, including cases involving cyberbullying, blackmail, sextortion and other forms of online exploitation,” said Mr Batiwale.

“While the OSC has not received any formal complaints directly related to the specific allegations circulating online, we strongly encourage individuals who may have experienced such situations to come forward and report them.

“Our role is to offer guidance, support victims and work in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies, including the Cybercrime Unit and the Fiji Police Force.”

Mr Batiwale said while a number of complaints were of abuse against the vulnerable, like women and children, men were not immune from the abuse.

“The OSC receives a number of reports regarding online harassment, blackmail and sextortion, although we do not specifically categorise cases based on the gender of the complainant.

“While women and children are often highlighted as vulnerable groups, it is important to acknowledge that men can also be victims of online exploitation.

“Each case is handled with confidentiality and sensitivity to ensure the safety and well-being of all complainants.”

Questions sent to police on the Nadi allegations remain unanswered.