A 26-year-old man from Gozo has been arrested following police investigation into allegations that he used fake social media profiles to groom and sexually exploit multiple individuals, the majority of whom are minors.

The suspect allegedly posed as a 17-year-old boy, using photos stolen from other people's profiles to conceal his true identity and gain the trust of his victims before convincing them to send indecent photos, the police said Monday.

According to the police, the youngest victim identified so far is a 10-year-old girl. In several instances, the man reportedly demanded that the minors perform sexual acts on video and threatened to distribute the explicit material within their schools and local communities if they refused.

The breakthrough in the case came after two men reported that their photos were being used by a fake profile, leading investigators to raid the suspect's residence in Victoria, Gozo, where electronic devices were seized and analysed to confirm his identity.

The man faced no less than 56 criminal charges after using a fake identity on social media to target victims for sexual abuse. He was remanded in custody on Monday.

He was charged befpre Magistrate Jean Paul Grech at the Gozo law courts, following a police investigation that led to his arrest. Gambin pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was denied bail.

The court heard of at least nine victims--seven females and two male--seven of which are minors. One girl is as young as 10. The police believe there may be other victims, who have yet to make contact.

Following the arrest, the police issued an urgent appeal urging any other potential victims, especially minors who may have interacted with this fake profile, to come forward and report their experiences.

The authorities stressed that while the internet serves as a platform for learning and socializing, children face growing risks of online exploitation and abuse, which can be prevented with the right precautions.

To help individuals avoid falling victim to online predators, the police shared critical safety advice, warning that online identities can easily be faked and that users should only converse with people they know in real life.

They emphasized that intimate photos or videos should never be sent to strangers, and any conversation that causes discomfort should be stopped and blocked immediately.

Finally, the police urged anyone targeting by online predators not to stay silent, but to speak to trusted family members, friends, and law enforcement for assistance.