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Conflict Incident Report

2 busted in phone credit for sex scam

Date of incident: 
October 2, 2017
Death toll: 
0persons
Number of Injured: 
0persons
Actors/Parties Involved: 
Lebanese Civilians
ISF Intelligence Branch
Syrian Civilians/Refugees
Two people arrested on prostitution charges in a north Lebanon red light district were found to have scammed potential clients.
 
On October 2, 2017, in Tabarja and Maameltein, after close surveillance, the ISF's Information Branch arrested Lebanese national M.S. and Syrian national A.F.. The two suspects were both born in 1989 and were in possession of seven mobile phones at the time of their arrest.
 
Under interrogation the suspects reportedly admitted to communicating with young adults via WhatsApp, giving them fake appointments for sex in exchange for mobile recharge cards, and then selling the cards,.
 
Examination of the confiscated mobile phones apparently indicated that the suspects operated several fake Facebook and Instagram accounts, to which they had posted sexually explicit photos and videos.
Primary category: 
Arrest/Detention
Secondary Category: 
Illicit Trade/Trafficking/Smuggling
Classification of conflict (primary): 
Individual acts of violence
Violent incidents which do not have a specific or a known political agenda but are caused by the general proliferation of weapons, of trained and untrained soldiers or militants, by the general inefficiency of the Justice system, and past-traditions and histories of violence within society.