The FBI has arrested a 27-year-old man who, after hacking into the accounts of women on his Facebook friend list, forced them to strip for him in front of his Skype camera.
Karen “Gary” Kazaryan, of Glendale, California, was arrested yesterday on federal cybercrimes charges.
According to a press release issued by the Department of Justice, Kazaryan allegedly hacked into his victims' emails. Immediately after gaining access to their emails, he changed their Facebook account passwords. He was able to search his victims' private conversations and search for nude or semi-nude photos without any interference.
Kazaryan was able, through hacked accounts and speaking on behalf of his victims, to trick other women (who believed they were talking to their close friend) into taking off their clothes in front of the Skype camera.
Kazaryan allegedly threatened to post these photos on the victims' timelines if they refused to comply with his demands.
The FBI says it has seized about 3,000 photos from Kazaryan's computer, and believes more than 350 women may have been blackmailed by the criminal.
If convicted of all charges, Kazaryan could face a sentence of up to 105 years in federal prison, Sophos reports.
