Retired football player David Beckham has been blackmailed by online hackers, reports claim. The said hackers were reportedly trying to extort money from him by threatening to release a series of leaked email that can possibly damage his reputation.
According to reports, the hackers claim that they obtained personal emails of David. Apparently, they have used Russian servers to target the superstar's email correspondence with his publicists at Simon Oliveira's agency.
Beckham is said to have used foul language in emails to his PR team after missing out on being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II due to alleged concerns over tax affairs.
The hackers threatened to expose David's alleged true intention with UNICEF. The culprits claim that they have proof that will reveal Beckham's work with UNICEF was part of a campaign for knighthood and that they will expose it if they were not given the amount they are asking for.
A photo posted by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Jan 29, 2017 at 2:03am PST
Allegedly, one of the messages reads, "They r a bunch of c***s. I expected nothing less. Who decides on the honors [sic]?? It's a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would have got something like this 10 years ago."
In another email, Beckham allegedly ranted about Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins for receiving an OBE instead of him in 2014. The message allegedly reads, "Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops, plus admitting to taking coke....F***ing joke and if you get asked we should think of a cutting remark."
Based on an investigation, the hackers are notorious in targeting a number of businesses connected to the football world. According to reports, the hacker, who wrote under the name Artem Lovuzov, said: "The leak is a lot bigger than you imagine. a generous donation, and you can be sure that all the information I own will be destroyed."
Asked how much this meant, the hacker added, "I think something between €500,000 (£430,000) and a million would be a great donation for this material but I want to see your suggestions."
A spokesman for Beckham clarified that this story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and altered private emails and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture.
On the other hand, UNICEF emphasized that Beckham was a generous man who had given his "time, energy and support to help uplift the awareness and funds for Unicef's work for children".
David Beckham has reportedly denied the accusations against him.
