There is a disturbing online scam targeting members of the LGBT community right here in metro Detroit.
Investigators have an important warning to avoid becoming a victim.
The victims are often gay men, who find themselves the targets of sinister scammers. Investigators say it rises to the level of a hate crime.
Dana Nessel, president of the group Fair Michigan says, “I would have primarily gay men come to see me to talk about the fact they were clearly extorted by someone who had set them up.”
She adds, “I think this is a widespread scam, and the reason it’s spreading is because it’s effective. People are clearly going online and trying to find gay men in order to perpetrate this scam.”
Nessel says people are often embarrassed and don’t want to tell anyone about this, and some aren’t even open about their sexuality. It starts at dating sites with categories for gay men where erotic photographs are sometimes exchanged. Then, meetings are possibly arranged where sexual acts take place.
“Shortly afterwards, the victim will be contacted and told the person they had sex with or exchanged erotic photographs with is actually a minor. They’ll start getting text messages saying ‘hey, I found out you hooked up with my 15-year-old son and I’m going to the police if you don’t pay’,” says Nessel.
In reality, both parties are consenting adults. No minors are involved. But, the person behind the hoax is adamant they’ll go to the police unless their victim pays up.
“In some cases, it might be a few thousand dollars and up to $70,000. People are terrified. Because remember statutory rape in this state is a 15-year offense. You could go to prison for up to 15 years so people are terrified and they’re paying,” says Nessel.
Harper Woods Deputy Police Chief Ted Stager says, “Our victim finally reported the crime to us, and we got involved and did an investigation which led to his arrest.”
The man they arrested was 26-year-old Devin Higgins of Warren. Recently charged with extortion, he’s facing a 20 year felony plus separate federal charges.
“We do believe there’s other victims out there who this defendant has victimized and was a predator towards. It’s all greed. It’s money. This is a way for an individual to get as much money as they can from a victim thinking they’re not going to report it,” says Stager.
Nessel tells us anyone engaging in online relationships that involve the exchange of sexual photos must insist on seeing ID to verify that person is an adult. The same goes for sexual acts performed between two parties.
“I would encourage anyone this happens to, to immediately contact police and let them know because clearly they are becoming the victim of a crime. Anytime you target somebody specifically based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, that qualifies as a hate crime” says Nessel.
Police want more possible victims to come forward. To contact the Fair Michigan Justice Project, please go to the website: www.fairmichigan.org
ht/ rob e.
This scam works on straight people, particularly married people. Will the perps of these extortion crimes against straight people be given lighter sentences? That would steer people into targeting straight people, no?
Hate crime laws are hate crimes in itself.
These people aren’t targeting gays because they hate them, are they? I don’t think so. And shouldn’t that be the bar for a hate crime, to actually hate the people you’re targeting?
Phone scammers specifically target old people. Shouldn’t that be a hate crime?
I hate the left.
Well, I guess if it’s illegal I better stop doing it.
I thought gay men had anonymous sex in highway rest stops or through a hole in the wall. I just can’t keep up. Technology, why put yourself out there in the first place? Oh, Weiner.
@BFH – So do I hate the left (although I usually refer to “collectivists”).
Here in Florida deliberately targeting the elderly is a separate crime in some cases or a sentence-lengthening condition in others.
I couldn’t agree more that hate crime laws are themselves hate crimes.
Anyone clever enough to carry out a scam that works well enough and often enough to be worth his time is clever enough to do an informal risk/benefit analysis. That is what results in gays, or old people, or Hittite orphans, or whatever, being targeted: it is easier to get money from them, and/or the risks of getting caught and punished are lower. If there’s any hate involved, it is crooks hate the fact that non-crooks have money the crooks want.
Ultimately, I don’t care all that much why person A assaulted person B. It is the assault that’s the crime.
Just kowtowing to the powerful LGBT political lobby. The lawmakers are all scared of the gays because they generally have lots of money (no family to support), professionals in high paying and influencial jobs and an overblown sense of persecution. Sooner or later the SCOTUS will have a reasonable balance of Judges and a case like this will end up there and the special Hate Crime sentencing (not only the gay ones, but all of them) will be reviewed and overturned. That will have the LGBT community hissing like scalded pussies.
I got caught extorting money out of married Black guys by threatening to tell their wives about their affairs with Caucasian women.
They charged me with whitemail.
Probably everyone has received the automated call from the IRS this year stating they are preparing a lawsuit against you at which time I always promptly hang up and block the number but apparently a bunch of idiots end up wiring funds to someone out of fear. I’m sure that includes a diverse group of people – why would you treat one group different than any other. The scammer doesn’t care and it doesn’t change his crime. Silly, based on emotion and who wants to live in an America where everyone is racing to become the bigger victim.
Justice is supposed to be blind. This ‘hate crime’ crap is so racist, homophobe, islamophobe etc etc etc. People want to come to America for the equality, but some here just want to be treated special. SMH
How could it be a hate crime anyway? If two strangers meet and have homosexual sex, THEY ARE BOTH HOMOSEXUALS! It can’t be a hate crime, unless they are self-hating.
Gays, do the right thing the first time, and you won’t have to worry about this shit.
If I don’t want my wife finding out I’m having extramarital affairs, I simply don’t have extramarital affairs. If I don’t want to worry about getting caught doing illegal things at work, then I don’t do illegal things at work.
Gays, it’s better if you don’t look for that instant gratification; take a moment or two to think of consequences. Do your small heads have that ability?
Go for the chocolate starfish all you want… don’t bitch though when it all turns against you.
Hate crime? No. There are laws on the books now making extortion illegal. Fuck off with this special interest shit.
@VietVet
Isn’t that charge called “privileged whitemale” ?