The Jakarta Police have arrested two men who allegedly hacked 600 local and international websites for data to use in a blackmail scheme, its spokesperson has said.

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the two perpetrators forcefully gained access to private computers and networks to gather information and data to blackmail prospective victims.

“After the perpetrators obtained their victims' data, they used [the information] to threaten the victims that they would spread the data if [the victims] did not give them some money,” Argo said Tuesday as quoted by tribunnews.com. The victims were then instructed to send money via PayPal or as Bitcoin.

The two men are part of a group of six cybercriminals, each of which have a specific role in targeting victims. However, the police were only able to arrest two of the gang on Sunday in Surabaya, East Java.

Argo added that the cyber-gang had been carrying out the scheme for a year and had amassed around Rp 200 million (US$14,500) in blackmail money.

The police have seized a cell phone, several laptops and a modem in connection with the case. The perpetrators will be charged under the Money Laundering Law and the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. (wnd)