LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The FBI arrested a man in Las Vegas for allegedly extorting and threatening customers and Instagram influencers as part of an online business to block and unlock social media accounts, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.
FBI agents arrested Idriss Qibaa on Monday as part of an investigation that began in April, records said. Qibaa runs the website Unlocked4life.com and uses the names “Dani” and “Unlocked,” documents said.
Officials said that Qibaa is a Moroccan national in the country legally but is not a U.S. citizen.
“On multiple occasions through different means, Qibaa has stated if he feels any law enforcement pressure or is arrested and makes bail, he will flee back to Morocco and ‘live like a king,’” the FBI said.
The FBI alleges Qibaa “outlined an extortion scheme” during a podcast in January where he also said he makes more than $600,000 a month through his website, Unlocked4life.com, and its subscribers. During the “No Jumper” podcast, Qibaa described “locking victims of their social media accounts” and then “charging the victims to unlock the account,” documents said.
Unlocked4life.com, which state records show is based in Henderson, advertises that it can ban or unban social media accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram and TikTok, investigators said. Qibaa also offered a service to purchase digital tracking and personal information. The website remained active Tuesday.
“Qibaa stated he profits by locking victims out of their social media accounts on Instagram and charges the victims to unlock the account,” documents said. The FBI lists several alleged victims in court documents, including unnamed celebrities and influencers.
In one case, a social media influencer inquired about purchasing a username from Qibaa, documents said. When the influencer did not go through with the purchase, Qibaa allegedly threatened the influence, blocked him and demanded $10,000 to unlock it.
In another case, a businessman paid Qibaa $25,000 for a unique Instagram handle, documents said. The businessman never received control of the handle and Qibaa “demanded $100,000 instead,” the FBI said. The man then started receiving threats to shoot or injure his family members and business partners.
Earlier this month, a person took out a restraining order against Qibaa for similar allegations, documents said. Qibaa then allegedly sent text messages to the person, including the message: “Cute restraining order… last I checked you’re still gonna die,” according to the FBI.
Other allegations of threats and extortion involve Qibaa’s Las Vegas landlord and a Beverly Hills-based dentist, documents said.
Qibaa faces two federal counts of interstate communications. Judge Maximiliano Couvillier III ordered Qibaa to be detained pending trial.
Anyone who believes they are the victim of any online fraudulent activity can report it directly to the FBI at ic3.gov. The FBI also offers information on its website about how to spot the most common scams and cybercrimes.
