Authorities in Malaysia are hunting the suspect behind a blackmail attempt on at least 10 lawmakers who received emails demanding US$100,000 payments to avoid the release of deepfake sex videos using their likenesses.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the members of parliament were sent similar emails over the weekend demanding that they pay the ransom via a QR code or the clips would be released to the public.
It is the largest number of Malaysian politicians ever to be targeted by a single smear campaign. Blackmailers had in the past focused on senior leaders and other influential individuals.
The emails used nearly identical wording and included similar screenshots
“Checks found that the emails used nearly identical wording and included similar screenshots [of the alleged videos] … believed to have been sent from the same email address,” Fahmi revealed in a statement on Sunday.
Fahmi, who is among the victims, said others who received the threat included former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Adam Adli, and senior MP Wong Chen – all members of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s People’s Justice Party (PKR).
