The FBI arrested a man in Las Vegas last week for allegedly extorting Instagram users. The suspect, Idriss Qibaa, also known as “Dani” or “Unlocked,” was caught after he boasted about his extortion scheme in a podcast interview. He is facing federal charges for violating interstate communications laws by sending violent threats through text messages to victims and their families.
Qibaa operated a website called Unlocked4Life.com, where he promised to unlock social media accounts for a fee. However, he would lock the accounts himself and extort money from people to regain access. He also offered services such as artificially inflating views or followers, gathering personal information, and getting users banned.
During an interview on the No Jumper podcast, Qibaa revealed that he had over 200 clients who paid him monthly, earning him over $600,000. This interview led authorities to investigate further and uncover additional victims who had been targeted by Qibaa.
The criminal complaint against Qibaa details instances where he threatened to harm and kill victims and their loved ones, destroyed property, and engaged in extortion. One victim had her Instagram account locked and was threatened with the release of personal information if she didn’t pay a significant sum of money.
The podcast host, Adam Grandmaison, who interviewed Qibaa, expressed shock at the suspect’s willingness to discuss his illegal activities openly. He noted that Qibaa’s brazen attitude towards his criminal behavior was unlike anything he had encountered before.
Following the interview, Qibaa began threatening Grandmaison as well, prompting concerns for his safety. Despite not being a U.S. citizen, Qibaa lived legally in the country but expressed intentions to flee back to Morocco if he faced law enforcement pressure.
The FBI is continuing its investigation into Qibaa’s activities, and he is currently facing federal charges in Nevada. His attorney has not yet provided a statement regarding the case.
The case highlights the dangers of online extortion and the importance of cybersecurity measures to protect personal information and social media accounts from malicious actors like Qibaa. Authorities urge individuals to be cautious when sharing sensitive information online and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
