NSW Premier Mike Baird's former deputy Andrew Stoner "never ever" discussed with him falling victim to a global extortion racket while he was in public office.
Mr Baird on Monday learned details of the racket as media revealed Mr Stoner was one of several high profile people netted in a scam through social media site LinkedIn.
Police sources have confirmed the rort involved the ex-Nationals leader sending compromising images to someone he had communicated with through the professional networking platform.
AAP understands the recipient was an extortionist who demanded money to prevent the images being distributed.
While Mr Stoner has denied he sent images, a source close to him said threats were made to him and his family.
Sources have confirmed Mr Stoner, 55, paid a sum as part of the extortion and then reported the matter to police after he resigned from the NSW ministry last year.
Mr Baird stood by his side at parliament house as the then Oxley MP announced he would step down as the state's deputy leader last October.
Days later he announced his departure from the ministry and then resigned from politics at the March election.
However, the blackmail scam had nothing to do with his decision to quit politics, a source close to Mr Stoner said.
Mr Stoner cited personal reasons at the time and wanting to spend more time at home with his family.
Asked if Mr Baird knew at that stage about the blackmail attempt, the premier confirmed he learned about the scam in the media this week.
"Andrew never ever raised this with me," Mr Baird told reporters.
"The first that I saw yesterday was obviously comments that I haven't had a discussion with Andrew about.
"Ultimately this is not something that impacts the government. It is something that is a personal matter."
Mr Baird said there was no suggestion "what has taken place has in anyway impacted (Mr Stoner's) ministerial responsibilities".
Mr Stoner told AAP on Monday night: "The details of the story aren't right and I won't be commenting, as advised by police".
He is not the only high-profile person to be caught up in the west African-based extortion racket, which targets prominent people on LinkedIn and builds up a rapport with them over time.
It is understood the NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad has several similar cases on its books.
A LinkedIn spokesperson encouraged members to report user violations.
"When we detect or are notified of any such violations, we take immediate steps to investigate and rectify where necessary," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Share
