Kurdistan Region police arrest suspect over fake-account blackmail scheme

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Police in the Kurdistan Region's Körmiyan administration have arrested a suspect accused of blackmailing and insulting residents through fake social media accounts, the force said in a statement. Investigators with the anti-organized-crime unit identified and detained the suspect, identified only by initials and born in 2001, after surveillance and intelligence work, according to the police statement. Officers said they found that he had created numerous fake accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat used to target residents. The suspect was taken into custody under provisions of the law against the misuse of communications devices, and the investigation remains open, police said. Investigators also determined that he had deleted several accounts in an attempt to conceal evidence, and the statement listed the account names used. Police urged any citizens who were threatened, harmed or deceived through the accounts to file formal complaints with the communications-misuse investigation office.