Talented schoolboy, 16, took own life after being blackmailed by sick sextortion scammers posing as young girl
THE heartbroken parents of a talented teenager have told how he took his own life after being targeted in a ‘sextortion’ blackmail plot.
Murray Dowey, 16, was contacted online by someone posing as a young woman who claimed to be keen to strike up a friendship.
But the schoolboy was tricked into sending an intimate image before being blackmailed with it.
Murray, of Dunblane, Perthshire, tragically died by suicide just hours later, on December 30 last year.
His devastated family said their “whole world has been shattered” as they warned other children about the dangers of the internet.
Recalling events, Murray’s mum Ros told ITV: “The panic and terror he must have been in for however long this went on, whether it was minutes or hours…
“I’m devastated for him, that he was just obviously in such a state that he thought taking his life was the only thing he could do.
“You’d never, ever imagine it’s going to hit you because you’re just a ‘normal family’ and these things don’t happen.
“I just think they’re evil…those criminals killed our son. They can’t just be anonymous people behind the keyboard thousands of miles away.
“There has to be consequences and there has to be consequences to deter others from doing this.”
The anonymous online predator threatened to expose intimate details about him.
Just a few hours later, he was found by his devastated family at their home.
Despite the efforts of an ambulance crew, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two weeks later police told his parents Murray had been a victim of sextortion.
His dad Mark said: “It was absolute torture.
“He did take his own life but he was very much taken to that point by these criminals.”
The family have since urged youngsters to be honest and report any concerns if they think they have fallen victim to blackmail.
Police Scotland said their enquiries to establish the full circumstances leading up to Murray’s death are “continuing”.
A spokeswoman said officers are in touch with Nigerian authorities but that it’s not clear if those responsible are in Nigeria or Nigerian.
Superintendent Joanne McEwan said: “Sextortion is blackmail and those targeted should not be embarrassed or scared to come forward.
“This type of crime can be very malicious and victims, particularly young people, can be extremely scared and not want to talk about it.
“It is important that it is reported to police.”
The force said it had experienced an increase in sextortion incidents.
Reports to UK-wide The Revenge Porn Helpline also doubled last year reaching nearly 19,000, with sextortion making up over a third of cases.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.