Extortionist Idriss Qibaa Faces Decades in Prison for $600K Social Media Scam.
Idriss Qibaa, a 28-year-old extortionist, faces decades in prison after pleading guilty to a series of crimes related to a brazen social media scheme that made him an estimated $600,000 a month. His operation, which involved stealing social media profiles and threatening victims with harm if they didn’t pay hefty ransoms, came crashing down after he boasted about his illegal earnings on a podcast.
Qibaa, who pled guilty in a Nevada federal court, now faces serious charges: extortion, money laundering, stalking, and threats to injure, all of which stem from an extensive FBI investigation. Here's how his criminal activities unfolded and led to his eventual arrest.
How Qibaa Exploited Social Media
Qibaa's scheme involved hijacking the social media profiles of over 200 victims, primarily targeting Instagram. By exploiting reporting systems or hacking passwords, he would lock the accounts or take them down entirely. Then, he would demand ransoms—often thousands of dollars—to restore access, sometimes forcing victims to pay ongoing fees to keep the accounts active.
But the extortion didn’t stop there. Qibaa used threats of violence to pressure his victims into paying. One chilling message read: "You think a group of little ghetto kids won’t come and eat you for $5k? Your head will be a snack for the pigs in Sinaloa."
Qibaa didn’t just extort influencers and businesses; he also threatened the lives of those who refused to pay or engage with him.
Targeting Influencers, Businesses, and Even Families
Qibaa's victims weren’t just social media influencers and business owners—he also terrorized everyday individuals, including a dentist, a landlord, and a politician's daughter. Court documents show the breadth of his harassment:
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A Beverly Hills couple: After they refused to pay Qibaa $20,000 in Bitcoin to reinstate their Instagram account, he vandalized their luxury cars and sent them disturbing threats about their children.
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A Las Vegas landlord: Qibaa harassed KD, his landlord, with racial slurs and escalated his behavior when security guards asked for identification at the gated community where he was renting. He later caused so much disturbance that KD was fined $5,000 by the homeowner association.
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A realtor: After hacking a realtor's social media accounts, Qibaa posted explicit content, threatening the realtor and demanding $10,000 to stop.
Qibaa's Boastful Admission: The Turning Point
Qibaa's downfall began when he made a reckless decision—he bragged about his illegal activities on a podcast. On January 18, 2024, during an appearance on the No Jumper podcast, Qibaa openly admitted to his criminal scheme, claiming he was making $2 million a month through his extortion work.
One message sent to another victim said: "The next photo my people send me will be you or your husband in that state, lol."
"You guys can kill me; that's the only option," Qibaa infamously said when asked about the risks of his actions. His boastfulness caught the attention of the FBI, and the investigation that followed led to his arrest. By late July 2024, Qibaa was behind bars, and his illicit profits were being confiscated.
Extortion and Violence: A Campaign of Terror
Qibaa's crimes extended far beyond just social media extortion. He targeted victims with multiple threats, many of which were deeply disturbing:
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Threats against a dentist: After the dentist refused to cooperate with Qibaa in October 2023, Qibaa retaliated by sending 700 threatening messages, including statements like, "You're dead, dog f**king dead" and "I will come and shoot you myself."
Qibaa appeared at their Beverly Hills home and vandalized their white 2022 Bentley and white 2023 Mercedes in the driveway by smashing them with a rock.
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Threats to a business owner: A business owner named Joshua T attempted to buy a social media handle from Qibaa. After initially declining Qibaa’s inflated asking price, Qibaa escalated the situation by threatening to harm Joshua and his family. When Joshua blocked him, Qibaa sent messages threatening Joshua’s sister.
Qibaa threatened the dentist's children, naming them specifically and labeling them as "Main Targets."
One of the texts read, "I just feel bad for your kids. If you truly cared for them, you'd never speak or treat me this way."
Qibaa even offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who would stalk Joshua T through a Telegram channel named "Unblocked Uncensored."
A Disturbing Pattern of Abuse and Blackmail
The stories of Qibaa's victims paint a chilling picture of his abusive behavior. One victim, the owner of the OutlawArchive Instagram account, had his profile locked by Qibaa, who demanded $12,000 for its return. When the victim obtained a restraining order, Qibaa taunted him with more threats, including, "Cute restraining order... last I checked you're still gonna die."
Qibaa's threats grew bolder with each incident. In one instance, he demanded $100,000 from a victim he had previously scammed for $25,000. When the victim refused, Qibaa began sending threats to his family and pets, claiming he would harm them if his demands weren’t met.
The FBI Investigation and Qibaa's Arrest
The FBI was tipped off about Qibaa’s podcast appearance on April 1, 2024. His blatant admissions and cocky behavior left the authorities with little choice but to investigate further. By July, Qibaa was arrested after the FBI gathered enough evidence of his extensive criminal activity.
Authorities also discovered that Qibaa had repeatedly said he would flee to Morocco if he were arrested. His boastful remarks about his ability to evade capture painted him as a serious flight risk.
Charges and Potential Sentencing
Qibaa faces significant prison time for his actions. He has pleaded guilty to extortion, money laundering, stalking, and threats to injure. Each extortion charge could carry up to 20 years in prison, while money laundering could result in 10 years behind bars. The stalking and threats to injure charges each carry a five-year sentence.
Qibaa is set to be sentenced on May 22, 2025, by District Judge Richard Boulware. His victims, many of whom suffered severe emotional and financial distress, will hopefully see justice served.
Conclusion: A Stark Warning Against Social Media Extortion
Idriss Qibaa’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of social media and the lengths some individuals will go to exploit others for profit. His actions not only violated the privacy of countless victims but also left a trail of fear and intimidation in their wake.
As Qibaa awaits sentencing, his story underscores the importance of being vigilant online and aware of the potential threats lurking in the digital world. With the authorities closing in on cybercriminals like him, the message is clear: there are serious consequences for those who abuse the power of the internet for malicious purposes.
