Two Dominican Republic nationals have been extradited to the United States to face charges over an alleged sextortion scheme that used social media to target victims in Puerto Rico, threaten exposure of sexually explicit images, and demand money. Patricia Joanna Almonte-Frías and her partner, Rineldys Feliciano Díaz-Cuevas, were extradited on September 30, 2026, after being arrested in the Dominican Republic on August 19 at the request of US authorities. The defendants face charges of conspiracy to cyberstalk and send interstate threats in the District of Puerto Rico, according to the US Department of Justice. The case concerns an alleged international operation in which victims were pressured to make payments under threats that compromising images would be shared with their families and friends.

Sextortion Scheme Allegedly Used Social Media Platforms

According to court documents, Almonte-Frías and Díaz-Cuevas operated a financially motivated sextortion conspiracy from the Dominican Republic. The alleged scheme involved identifying victims through Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms. Prosecutors allege that Almonte-Frías used her image to encourage victims in Puerto Rico to share sexually explicit photos and videos online. The material was secretly recorded, according to the allegations. Díaz-Cuevas and other alleged co-conspirators subsequently demanded money from victims, threatening to distribute the compromising images to their family members and friends if they did not pay. In some instances, the defendants allegedly created photo collages combining victims' sexually explicit images with pictures of minors. According to the Justice Department, these collages were designed to create the false impression that the victims were involved in sexual relationships with minors. The alleged social media extortion operation continued even after some victims made payments. Court documents state that, on multiple occasions, victims paid the demanded amounts and emptied their accounts, but the threats were still carried out. The victims' sexual images were subsequently distributed to their online networks of friends and family members.

FBI San Juan Investigated Cyberstalking Allegations

Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, said the alleged operation exploited victims' trust and vulnerability, causing lasting harm. Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan, said online extortion can cause significant financial and psychological harm. He encouraged people who suspect they have been targeted by extortion to report the incidents to law enforcement. The FBI San Juan office investigated the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo, the US Marshals Service, and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic assisted in securing the defendants' arrests and extradition. Assistant US Attorney Julián Radzinschi, from the Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Division, is prosecuting the case.

Sextortion Conspiracy Charges Carry Up to Five Years in Prison

Almonte-Frías and Díaz-Cuevas face charges of conspiracy to cyberstalk and send interstate threats under 18 U.S.C. § 371. They made their initial court appearances on October 1, 2026, before US Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López of the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Dominican Republic extradition marks the transfer of the two defendants to US jurisdiction to face the charges. The case also involves cooperation between US and Dominican Republic authorities in investigating alleged cross-border criminal activity. An indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

The European Commission has adopted the EU KIDS Act, a proposal that would introduce new age restrictions and safety requirements for online platforms used by children across the European Union. The proposal would prevent social media platforms from allowing children under 13 to access their services and establish an EU-wide minimum age of 15 for minors to open accounts independently.

The EU KIDS Act would also shift the burden of proof to online service providers, requiring them to demonstrate that their services are safe by design and appropriate for younger users.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the proposal is intended to give parents greater control over how children use digital services.

“Today, our children are engaging with the most sophisticated technologies ever created. Technology that was never created with their wellbeing in mind. Our KIDS Act is reversing the burden of proof - it is for platforms to show they are safe by design. And we put parents back in the driving seat, giving them the tools to help their children navigate a safer online world,” von der Leyen said.

EU KIDS Act Sets New Social Media Age Limits

Under the EU KIDS Act, children between 13 and under 15 would not be able to create autonomous social media accounts. Instead, they could use mini accounts managed through a parent or guardian's account, with access limited to age-appropriate social media and video-sharing services.

These mini accounts would include safeguards such as restricted social contacts and screen time of up to one hour per day.

Children between 3 and under 13 would not be permitted to access social media. They could, however, use specially designed child-friendly video-sharing services through guardian-managed accounts. Parents would also receive tools to restrict an adult device to those services when it is given to a child, with exposure limited to a maximum of one hour per day.

Safety-by-Design Rules Target Addictive Features

The proposal would introduce safety-by-design obligations for online services offering social media, video sharing, online video games, AI companions and chatbots to users under 18.

The proposed rules would prohibit addictive features and profiling-based recommendation feeds that can draw minors toward harmful content. Infinite scrolling without stopping points, reward mechanisms and push notifications during sleeping hours would also be restricted.

The proposal would further prohibit unsolicited contact from strangers. AI companions and chatbots would have to be turned off by default and could not simulate interpersonal relationships in ways that create emotional dependency.

Minor profiles would be private by default, while geolocation, camera and microphone access would be turned off. Platforms would also need to provide tools allowing minors to block or mute users, manage their time and control, tune and reset recommender systems.

Privacy-Preserving Age Assurance Proposed

The EU KIDS Act would require online services and app stores to use age assurance tools. The proposal points to the EU age verification app as one possible approach, with the system designed not to retain identity documents or biometric data.

Social media and video-sharing platforms would be expected to perform age verification when users create new accounts. For existing accounts, providers would estimate a user's age using reasonable indicators, such as the account creation date or credit card details.

EU Plans Faster Enforcement

The proposal would require very large online platforms to prove that their services are safe by design. Providers would submit compliance plans to the European Commission and an independent auditor, which would assess new services, features or functionalities.

If the Commission identifies shortcomings based on an auditor's report, it could require providers to propose corrective measures. The enforcement framework would build on existing structures under the Digital Services Act and Artificial Intelligence Act.

For noncompliance, the proposal includes expedited enforcement procedures under which the Commission should conclude investigations within 90 days.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said the proposal would allow children to use digital services while increasing safeguards and accountability for platforms.

“With our EU KIDS Act, we make sure our children can enjoy their rights online - to learn, stay connected and explore. We also give parents the tools to accompany their kids to navigate a safe digital world. All of this by keeping the pressure high on platforms, because they must prove their services do not harm,” Virkkunen said.

EU KIDS Act Moves to Parliament and Council

The legislative proposal has now been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for examination and adoption.

The proposal follows recommendations from the European Commission's Special Panel on Child Safety Online, which included more than 60 experts from areas including civil society, education, public health, child psychiatry and technology.

The Commission said public support for stronger online protections is also growing. According to the 2026 Special Eurobarometer on the Digital Decade, 92% of Europeans consider strengthening protection for children and young people online a top policy priority.

The Dubai Police fraudulent visa ads warning has cautioned the public against scams offering work visas, residency visas, and visit visas in exchange for money. According to the Anti Fraud Centre at Dubai Police's General Department of Criminal Investigation, fraudsters are using social media platforms and messaging apps to circulate fake visa offers by impersonating official entities or using the names of unlicensed companies. The advisory was issued as part of Dubai Police's Be Aware of Fraud campaign, which aims to raise awareness about online scams and help residents identify fraudulent schemes.

Dubai Police Fraudulent Visa Ads Circulating on Social Media

According to Dubai Police, scammers are promoting visa services through advertisements and messages that claim to offer work, residency, or visit visas for a fee. The Anti Fraud Centre said these advertisements are designed to convince victims to transfer money by falsely claiming to represent government authorities or licensed visa service providers. Some also use the names of unlicensed companies or offices to appear legitimate. Dubai Police urged the public not to rely on such offers and reminded residents that all visa procedures should be completed only through competent authorities or legally approved offices.

Authorities Urge Public to Verify Visa Offers

The Anti Fraud Centre said verifying the source of a visa service is the first step in avoiding visa fraud. Residents have been advised to confirm the authenticity of any visa offer or application process through official channels before making payments or sharing personal information. The centre also warned against dealing with intermediaries or unknown individuals claiming they can arrange visas through unofficial means. Dubai Police said people should not be misled by promises of guaranteed visas or job opportunities that are offered outside the legal process.

How to Report Fraud Attempts

Dubai Police has asked members of the public to report any fraud or attempted fraud immediately. Reports can be submitted through the Dubai Police Smart App, the eCrime platform for cybercrime reports, or by calling 901. The Anti Fraud Centre reiterated that staying informed and verifying service providers through official channels remain the most effective ways to avoid falling victim to fraudulent visa schemes.