Detectives were trying to uncover who is behind two social media accounts that are encouraging followers to send in nude photos of teenagers in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The "SCV Purge” Twitter account was created on Wednesday night, posting 20 photos and attracting around 3,000 followers before detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had it shut down.
An Instagram account with the same name soon followed, and detectives said many of the pictures posted on the social media app were illegally submitted. A picture on the account encouraged people to send in photos.
“You Can Say Anything Expose Any Picture” the message read in part.
A youth-centered organization extended a helping hand to anyone who may have been targeted or posted about.
“You look at kids who have had their trust violated and were traumatized online,” said Kim Goldman, executive director of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project. “That stuff doesn’t go away just because the page is down.
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It was unknown who was behind the accounts, but detectives are investigating. Because the images depicted minors, criminal charges are possible.
The accounts popped up just ahead of a horror movie sequel of the same name: “The Purge: Anarchy.”
