Man Arrested in Almería for Extorting Intimate Photos from Children Through Fortnite. Police in Almería have arrested a 21-year-old man who posed as a teenager to befriend children at sports venues, then used Fortnite and WhatsApp to extort intimate photos from them through threats and virtual gifts. The investigation has uncovered new incidents, and electronic devices have been seized.
In Almería, officers from the National Police have arrested a 21-year-old man suspected of committing crimes against the sexual integrity of minors. According to investigators, he would approach children at a sports complex, introducing himself as a peer, and then continue communication through the popular video game Fortnite and the messaging app WhatsApp.
The investigation began after the mother of one of the victims found a conversation on her 12-year-old son's phone with an unknown person who was demanding intimate photos. The boy told police that he had met the suspect a few days earlier at a sports field. There, the man asked him for his Fortnite nickname, after which they began interacting through the gaming console and messenger.
Posing as a teenager, the perpetrator sent the child explicit photos of himself and pressured him to do the same. He used promises of virtual gifts in the game and threats to block the boy's account if he did not comply.
When examining the child's mobile phone, police recovered part of the deleted correspondence, which confirmed the exchange of photographs. During the investigation, another 12-year-old boy was identified with whom the suspect had made similar contact.
Law enforcement established that the suspect regularly visited the sports complex, where he looked for new victims, and was even part of the technical staff of a children's team. During a search of his home, four mobile phones and a PlayStation 5 console were seized. An initial analysis of the devices revealed intimate materials, as well as numerous messages with users aged 10 to 14.
The court ruled to prohibit the suspect from approaching the victims and visiting the sports complex, but did not impose pre-trial detention. The investigation is ongoing, and police are checking the man's possible involvement in other incidents.
