- Written by Kate Whannell
- Political reporter
A Tory MP has said he is one of the men sent unsolicited explicit messages in a suspected honey trap plot targeting Westminster.
Bosworth MP Luke Evans said he contacted police after becoming a “victim of cyberflashing and malicious communications”.
lhave It has been reported As many as 13 men received suspicious messages, raising security concerns.
The men are believed to include a government minister and advisors.
Some were sent nude photos, and two MPs reportedly responded by sending photos of themselves.
It comes after fellow Conservative MP William Wragg issued an apology after admitting giving some MPs' personal phone numbers to a man on a gay dating app.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it was “conducting an investigation following reports that a number of unwanted messages had been sent to MPs in recent months”.
Earlier this week, Leicestershire Police said they were “investigating a report of malicious communications” sent to them last month.
Mr Evans describes his own experience in a Facebook video He said: “A month ago I was a victim of cyber threats and malicious communications.”
He said the first set of messages came when he was with his wife, and he received a “one-time open WhatsApp photo of an explicit photo of a naked lady.”
He added that ten days later he received another set of messages and was able to “record the conversations and take pictures and video of the messages.”
Evans said he informed the police as well as the Chief Whip of Parliament about the messages.
“I wanted it to be private because there is an ongoing police investigation,” he said, but added that in recent days he had been “hounded by journalists.”
“I am glad I blew the whistle and reported the matter to the authorities and the matter is now being looked into.”
Conservative MP William Wragg said he was sorry for sharing MPs' phone numbers with someone on a dating app
On Thursday, Mr Wragg admitted sending some MPs' numbers to someone he met on the dating site Grindr.
Rep. Hazel Grove told The Times he was “scared” because this person “compromises on things with me” and “won’t leave me alone.”
Wragg, who will step down in the next elections, said he feels “scared,” adding: “I am very sorry that my weakness has caused harm to others.”
The BBC spoke to two people in political circles who were targeted by spam.
One former MP, who is gay, said he received messages from someone calling himself “Charlie” who claimed, incorrectly, to have previously worked for Mr Wragg.
The former MP explained that he was in a relationship, but other flirtatious messages followed. After “Charlie” sent an explicit photo, the former MP blocked him.
A person who works for a member of parliament told the BBC that he received a letter last fall from someone calling himself “Abe”.
The employee said this person claimed to know him from work and mentioned an event he attended.
But he became suspicious when he asked about them, and they responded with “clearly false” information.
He said he ignored them, but they continued to message him. He told the BBC that he learned five or six months later that another person had received messages from a person with the same number and a similar photo.
One of the MP's staff said he would be “very surprised” if Mr Wragg got his number, as he did not remember ever meeting him.
A spokesman for the House of Commons said it takes security “very seriously” and provides MPs and staff with “tailored advice” to make them aware of online risks.
They added: “We encourage anyone affected and with concerns to contact the Parliamentary Security Department.”
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