13-year-old arrested on suspicion of luring underage girls from mobile game into sending nudes

Police arrested a 13-year-old boy on Tuesday on suspicion of soliciting topless pictures from three underage girls.

Getting to know his victims through a mobile phone game, the boy lured the girls into sending him nude photos and videos of them in exchange for virtual weapons and other equipment between last December and March.

He also threatened to publicize their photos and videos if they refused to send more, according to police. The victims are between the ages of nine and 12.

Police arrested the boy in Kwun Tong, and seized two computers and three mobile phones. He has been released on bail.

Noting the young age of the suspect, Chief Inspector Tai Tze-bun said sexual curiosity may have driven the boy to commit the crimes.

According to Stand News, the boy was using a mobile app game called Identity V to lure his victims. The same game was used in a similar case last October, in which a primary school teacher solicited nude photos from his underaged students and promised to give them in-game gifts.

There is no evidence that the boy circulated the photos and videos.

The police force’s cybersecurity and technology crime bureau are investigating the case, and further arrests are not ruled out.