LONDON (AP) — Following recent revelations, British lawmakers potentially affected by a sexting scam are being urged to approach law enforcement for assistance.
William Wragg, chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in Parliament, disclosed to The Times of London that he had provided phone numbers to an individual he met on a dating app, after the individual claimed to possess "compromising" material. Wragg, 36, stated that he felt "scared" and "manipulated" into divulging his colleagues' numbers to the person he encountered online.
"I gave them some numbers, not all of them," Wragg said. "I was worried because he had stuff on me... I've hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I'm mortified."
Gareth Davies, a Treasury minister, encouraged those affected to report to the police, acknowledging Wragg's apology but emphasizing the complexity of the situation. "People react in different ways," Davies told Sky News.
The incident, described as a honeytrap sexting scam, has been likened to "spear phishing," a cyber-attack tactic targeting specific groups by impersonating trusted sources to extract personal or sensitive data.
Wragg's admission followed speculation, fueled by a Politico article, suggesting that several current and former parliamentarians had been contacted via WhatsApp by an unidentified sender, recounting past encounters with politicians to obtain personal or sensitive information. Some targeted individuals reportedly received explicit images, with a few responding in kind.
"If you ever feel like you're in a compromised position, if you ever feel like you're being blackmailed, then you should go to the police immediately because it's an incredibly serious matter," Davies stressed.
Leicestershire Police in central England confirmed investigating reports of malicious communications after a local lawmaker received unsolicited messages last month.