Snapchat Hacker Jasin Bushi Gets Jail for Blackmail Blitz
Jasin Bushi, 18, from Camden, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 25 July, after admitting to a shocking hacking and blackmail spree targeting seven women’s Snapchat accounts.
Hacked Snapchat Accounts Used for Blackmail
Between December 2020 and February 2021, Bushi broke into the private Snapchat accounts of seven women. He changed their login details, locking them out, then messaged their friends pretending to be the victims.
- He asked to borrow £200-£300, claiming he needed rent money or risked eviction.
- When friends got suspicious, he admitted he wasn’t the victim but threatened to release nude photos if they didn’t pay up.
- Intimate images and videos stolen from private chats were posted to victims’ contacts, including friends, family, and colleagues.
Bushi denied posting the images, a claim accepted by the judge, though he was linked to fake PayPal accounts used to collect the blackmail money.
Police Crack Down After Victims Speak Out
Police were first alerted in May 2021. Detective Constable Ed Sehmer of the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit said:
“Bushi completely violated the victims’ privacy all in an attempt to make a quick bit of cash. When his deception did not work, he resorted to blackmail. He is extremely cruel, callous, and it was absolutely devastating for the victims.”
Officers found personal banking details, emails, passwords, and even a note from Bushi begging for rent money on the phones seized during a raid in August 2021.
Seven victims aged 17 to 35 came forward. Many more stayed silent, too ashamed or distressed. One victim shared how the ordeal wrecked her life:
“Snapchat was where I stored treasured memories of my child. Now, just opening the app makes me feel sick. A friend lost a significant amount of money trying to help me, and I’m left with lasting psychological scars — humiliation and shame every day.”
Another victim found out about the posts at work and said:
“I left the office in tears and took days off. The feelings still haunt me. I would never wish this on anyone.”
Warning: Protect Your Accounts Now
Bushi was charged on 21 February 2022 after giving no comment in two police interviews.
DC Sehmer urged social media users to boost their security:
“Use two-factor authentication and never reuse passwords. Change passwords regularly. Make them long, alphanumeric with special characters.”
The Met’s Cyber Crime Unit supports victims and tracks cyber criminals, warning that over 80% of referrals involve social media hacks.
If you suspect your accounts have been hacked, act fast. Follow government advice to recover your account here: NCSC: Recovering a Hacked Account.
