A registered sex offender is facing charges after unlawfully accessing Snapchat accounts belonging to several local high school students. Detectives from Major Crimes Bureau began investigating last week after students from South County and West Springfield High Schools reported being contacted by another Snapchat user who was in possession of sensitive content from the victims’ accounts. The offender used the account name pviexposed when he contacted the victims and threatened to expose their private videos and images.
An investigation revealed that Christopher Martini, 33, of Lorton sent text messages posing as a Snapchat representative and lured the victims into providing identifying information and login credentials. This technique is referred to as phishing.
Detectives charged Martini with two counts of using a computer to gather identifying information and two counts of computer trespass. Additional charges are pending further investigation. Martini is being held at the Adult Detention Center without bond – according to FCPD Media Relations Bureau.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about these crimes or anyone that was contacted by Snapchat user pviexposed to call Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest.