British police have launched an investigation into explicit messages sent to MPs as part of a sexting scam targeting MPs, amid a recent cybersecurity scare gripping Parliament.
Conservative MP William Wragg admitted late Thursday that he had sent the personal phone numbers of several colleagues to a man he met on a gay dating app.
Mr Urag, 36, told the Times he did so under pressure because the recipient claimed it contained material that threatened him.
“I was worried because he had something on me. He gave me his WhatsApp number, but I can't use it now,” said the lawmaker, who will resign at the next election.
“I've hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I'm frustrated,'' he said.
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The scam is described as a “spear phishing” attack in which a supposedly trustworthy sender steals personal or sensitive information.
The British government last month summoned China's top envoy in London to complain about a series of cyberattacks, including against members of parliament, and earlier allegations of spying on members by the Chinese government.
There was no clear evidence of Chinese involvement in the targeting of Mr. Wragg and others, as first reported by Politico this week.
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But this will once again raise questions about cybersecurity for MPs and the UK Parliament as a whole.
Two members of Congress also responded to the first message with explicit personal photos, according to the Times.
Leicestershire Police in central England also said it was investigating a “report of malicious communications” sent to local MPs last month.
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“They were reported to police on Tuesday, March 19. The investigation is currently ongoing,” the statement said.
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