Idriss Qibaa, 28, faces decades behind bars after pleading guilty to a large-scale extortion and cybercrime scheme that earned him an estimated $600,000 per month. His operation involved hijacking social media accounts and demanding hefty ransoms from victims under threats of harm.
The FBI launched an investigation after Qibaa boasted about his illegal profits on a podcast, ultimately leading to his arrest. Prosecutors revealed that Qibaa used intimidation, stalking, and digital threats to pressure victims into paying for access to their stolen profiles.
In a Nevada federal court, Qibaa pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including:
Extortion
Money laundering
Stalking
Threats to injure
Qibaa’s sentencing is expected to take place in the coming months, with legal experts predicting a lengthy prison term due to the severity of his crimes.
Authorities warn social media users to strengthen their security measures and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
