Dutch police have launched a global appeal for victims of an alleged international sextortion campaign to come forward, after a 22-year-old Dutch man was accused of coercing dozens of women and girls into degrading sexual acts online. Investigators say the suspect posed as a teenage girl on social media platforms, convinced victims to share explicit photos, and then blackmailed them into producing increasingly graphic content by threatening to send the images to their families and friends.
The suspect, identified as Damian A. under Dutch privacy laws, was arrested in January 2025 and is currently on trial in Dordrecht. Prosecutors have charged him with online sexual assault and online rape and are seeking a nine-year prison sentence along with psychological treatment. Authorities say more than 50 victims from countries including the Netherlands, the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, and Montenegro have been identified, though the actual number is believed to be much higher.
Police say the campaign aims to reassure victims that the suspect is in custody and encourage others to seek help and report abuse, while also warning people who shared or bought the images to delete them immediately. The case highlights the growing threat of sextortion, with nearly 3,000 cases recorded in the Netherlands in 2025 alone, marking a sharp rise and raising concerns about online safety and digital exploitation.
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