SAMUEL WARD FROM SUFFOLK TARGETS VICTIMS ONLINE IN INTERNATIONAL SCAM
An extensive investigation conducted by the National Crime Agency has uncovered the disturbing online activities of Samuel Ward, a 27-year-old man from Newmarket, Suffolk.The case reveals a pattern of manipulative and predatory behavior aimed at vulnerable individuals, primarily young women and girls, through social media platforms.
It all began when a 17-year-old girl in Florida reported her experience to U.S.
law enforcement authorities, who then shared this information with the NCA.
The girl had been approached in May 2020 by two Instagram accounts that offered her a weekly allowance of $500 in exchange for explicit images and videos.
One of the accounts sent her a message stating, “well just to prove I have the funds,” accompanied by a doctored image of a bank account showing a balance of £98,606.80.
Despite her compliance and sending increasingly explicit photos, the user behind the accounts never revealed their true identity nor transferred any money to her.
Through meticulous investigation, NCA officers identified Samuel Ward as the individual controlling these Instagram accounts.
Further inquiries revealed that Ward had proposed similar ‘sugar daddy’ arrangements to at least 40 women and girls across different countries.
Of these, 33 were based in the UK, six in the United States, and one in Ireland.
Many of these women rejected his advances, but investigators confirmed that Ward had targeted a total of 18 victims, including four minors under the age of 18.
Between 2019 and 2021, Ward employed the same manipulative tactics across multiple platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, and Tinder.
He would offer money in exchange for explicit images, often sending the same fabricated bank balance image to multiple victims.
One notable case involved a 23-year-old woman who was offered £3,000 by Ward for what he called “non-explicit” images.
He even created a fake transaction receipt showing the money being sent from his account to hers.
Trusting his claim, she began sending him the requested images and videos.
However, when she checked her bank statement, she found a mere £3 payment from Ward.
When she confronted him, he responded, “3?
I didn’t send 3, I sent £3,000,” revealing his deception.
Another victim, a 17-year-old girl known to Ward, reported to police that he had coerced her into sending 57 indecent images between November 2019 and March 2020.
Investigators obtained chat logs from iMessage, which showed her nervousness and reluctance to send the images.
Ward’s responses included statements like, “I have needs,” and “if u loved me u would have made some kind of effort.” To further pressure her, he offered a sum of £10,000 for ten photos.
After she sent the images, he only sent her a token payment of £1, claiming it was to prove he would pay her, but he never fulfilled his promise.
Following Ward’s arrest, authorities examined his bank statements, which revealed that he was in overdraft throughout his two-year period of offending.
The statements confirmed the payments of £3,000 and £1 that he had falsely claimed to send.
In April 2023, Ward pleaded guilty to 19 charges, including fraud, possession of articles for use in fraud, making indecent images of children, and malicious communication.
He appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on 13 November, where a judge sentenced him to 30 months in prison.
Additionally, Ward was subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Adam Priestley, a senior investigating officer at the NCA, emphasized the severity of Ward’s actions, stating, “Ward relentlessly targeted teenage girls and young women online with promises of payments he never intended to send, nor had the means to do so.
I would like to commend the victims who assisted our enquiries, including the 17-year-old from the U.S.
who first reported Ward’s offending.
Her brave actions led to an international investigation that has seen Ward brought to justice, and many more victims identified.” He further added, “At the NCA, we are committed to catching offenders who pose a threat to vulnerable people in the UK, and this investigation demonstrates how we collaborate with international partners to combat serious online criminality.
We urge anyone who has been pressured or deceived into sending sexual images online to report it to the police.
Remember, you are not alone, and help is always available.” The NCA’s CEOP Education programme continues to support parents, carers, children, and professionals in ensuring safe and positive online experiences for young people.
Anyone experiencing pressure or threats to send sexual images or videos should immediately cease communication, avoid further responses, and report the incident to authorities or a trusted adult.
