HEBRON (Ma'an) -- PA Preventive Security officers on Tuesday arrested members of a gang suspected of threatening and extorting money from residents of Hebron.

The gang is suspected of threatening to destroy individuals' reputations using sensitive information about "immoral acts" to extort large sums of money, at times using death threats, Preventive Security officers told Ma'an.

Some victims filed complaints against the gang, and Preventive Security found the gang had a long history in blackmail.

A senior Preventive Security officer told Ma'an that anyone being extorted must immediately file a complaint to authorities, adding that such complaints would be treated confidentially.

He said fear and shame had prevented some victims from coming forward.