Personal information
One young man from Navarre found himself staring at a frightening trap that began with a simple online search. He watched as his savings were drained to fend off terrifying threats. The fear was so real that he kept a rifle by the window every night, bracing for a night when the call would come. He became a central figure in a case where a blackmail gang preyed on people who were only trying to connect with others online, drawing attention from the Civil Guard in Navarre.
The nightmare began late in 2021 after he opened a contact page on his phone. He recalls trying to reach out to someone and being unable to connect. The messages started arriving the next day, with questions and demands that grew more threatening as time went on. He received messages and calls that suggested life at work would suffer if he did not cooperate, and that money losses would escalate if he refused. He explained that these claims were false, but his words bounced back with hostility and persistence.
Personal information
The most troubling aspect was the attackers’ grasp of personal data: his name, his address, intimate details he had not shared with anyone. The fear deepened as the threats continued. They warned that two men would come to collect the debts, and that his safety would be at risk if he did not pay. The pressure mounted, and he watched the debt tally rise with every new demand.
Grappling with fear, he made a naive decision under pressure: he paid the demanded sum to make the problem disappear. A caller claimed to have a solution and directed the transfer of 2,000 euros. He handed over the money after being reassured that the danger would end. The process continued as the gang asked for more, and another 2,000 euros was sent. In total, the payments reached four thousand euros, each transfer driven by fear and the urge to regain control of his life.
There was relief for a moment, but the threats did not stop. They pressed harder, and the costs kept climbing. The individual felt trapped by a situation that had spiraled beyond control, unable to distinguish fact from fear as the online extortion persisted.
Complaint before the Civil Guard
After weeks of relentless pressure, the person found the strength to break the cycle. He announced that he had exhausted all his savings and warned the would-be extortionists that he would stand his ground if they attempted to follow through on their threats. Night after night, he watched from the window with a rifle, waiting for any sign of danger. The stress and anxiety stretched on for weeks, until he finally filed a formal complaint with the Civil Guard.
In recent days there had been arrests by the authorities, providing a sense of relief and a glimmer of justice. The individual expressed gratitude for the Civil Guard’s efforts to investigate and respond. Although the full amount paid could not be recovered, a partial refund of 700 euros offered some reassurance. The experience underscored a clear lesson: no one should be subjected to online extortion and threats, and reporting such crimes is crucial to stopping them at the source.