Photo: VCG

Two individuals who digitally fabricated images by placing the faces of well-known corporate executives onto explicit photos and mailed threatening letters to 212 executives nationwide in an attempt to extort money were sentenced for extortion, according to authorities in East China's Shandong Province.

In May 2023, Zhu, a man struggling financially and unemployed, decided to engage in illegal activities with Feng.

One recipient, Zhang, identified the photo as a digitally fabricated attempt at extortion, knowing he had never taken such images, and he reported the matter to the police. Local police arrested Zhu and Feng, both of whom confessed to the crime. 

They had not received any payments before their arrest, but their actions were still classified as an attempted extortion, as their failure was due to factors beyond their control.

Global Times