DORDRECHT, Netherlands — Authorities in the Netherlands are conducting a social media outreach initiative to locate and provide assistance to teenage girls and young women across multiple countries, including the United States, who fell victim to an international online blackmail scheme involving explicit photographs.
The investigation began after receiving information from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and has identified over 50 female victims between ages 13 and 20 spanning six nations: the United States, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Montenegro, and Canada.
The accused is 22-year-old Damian A., whose full name is withheld according to Dutch privacy laws. He was taken into custody in early 2023 and began facing trial Wednesday in Dordrecht. Court officials expect a decision within weeks, and both prosecution and defense attorneys confirm he has admitted guilt.
“We are very worried because what these girls have had to endure is so extreme and so intense, and we know that there are more girls but we don’t know who they are,” Rotterdam Police Sexual Crimes Team member Milou van der Kolk told The Associated Press. She explained that evidence recovered from the defendant’s electronic devices suggests additional unidentified victims exist.
Operating under the online identity “Turpien,” the suspect allegedly forced victims to inscribe “Owned by Turpien” on their bodies or display signs while performing progressively humiliating acts. Authorities also allege he distributed images of his victims to third parties.
Van der Kolk noted that the Dutch initiative also serves to inform victims that their alleged abuser is now incarcerated and unable to cause further harm.
“This case highlights the importance of strong international cooperation, such as between U.S. and Dutch authorities, which is essential for protecting children online and effectively investigating and prosecuting offenders across borders,” Homeland Security Investigations attache in The Hague Eben Roberts stated in an email to AP.
“HSI is committed to solidify these partnerships to bring these child predators to face justice,” Roberts added.
Roberts explained that the Netherlands campaign, which provides contact information and resources for victims seeking assistance, coordinates with a U.S. initiative called Know2Protect that addresses online child exploitation.
Prosecutors revealed in a statement that psychological evaluation of the defendant determined he suffers from “an autism spectrum disorder and a sexual sadism disorder.” They are requesting a nine-year prison sentence plus mandatory psychiatric treatment. Charges include online assault and online rape, extortion, and creating, possessing and distributing child pornography.
Law enforcement officials allege the abuse began when the suspect deceived victims into sharing explicit photographs by posing as a female peer. He subsequently threatened to distribute the images unless they provided additional material.
The situation illustrates an expanding digital danger facing young people.
“Sextortion is an increasingly significant societal problem,” prosecutors stated, highlighting that 2025 witnessed a 46% surge in online sex crimes compared to the prior year, totaling more than 3,000 incidents in the Netherlands.
