Sextortion is an online blackmail scam where criminals threaten to share intimate images or videos unless the victim pays a ransom, often in cryptocurrency. Scammers typically contact victims through social media, dating apps, or hacked accounts, quickly escalating conversations to sexually explicit content to obtain compromising material.
What is Sextortion?
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where criminals threaten to share intimate images or videos unless the victim pays a ransom, often in cryptocurrency. Scammers make their threats seem credible by providing technical-sounding details about how the footage was supposedly obtained, sometimes even revealing an old password to heighten fear.
These scams rely on panic and shame to manipulate victims into acting quickly. However, the scammers are guessing—they don’t know if you have a webcam, visited adult websites, or how you communicate online. Their goal is to trigger an emotional response, hoping you'll "take the bait" and pay the ransom.
How Does Sextortion Work?
Sextortion scams typically follow a predictable pattern:
- Initial Contact: The scammer reaches out via social media, dating apps, or messaging platforms, often using a fake profile.
- Building Trust: They quickly engage in flirtatious or sexual conversation to lower the victim's guard.
- Content Exchange: The scammer may send an intimate image first to encourage the victim to reciprocate.
- Threat Issued: Once an image or video is shared, the scammer threatens to distribute it unless a payment is made.
- Escalation: If the victim pays, the scammer often demands more money, continuing the cycle of blackmail.
How to Spot Sextortion Scams
Be cautious if you notice any of the following red flags:
- Unfamiliar Contact: Messages from a stranger or a hacked account of someone you know.
- Rapid Escalation: Conversations quickly turn sexually explicit.
- Platform Switch: The scammer urges you to move from social media to an encrypted messaging app.
- Pressure Tactics: The scammer manipulates or coerces you into sharing intimate content.
- Hacking Claims: They claim to have hacked your device and accessed personal information.
- Financial Demands: After sharing an image, they demand payment, often via cryptocurrency or gift cards.
The Psychological Impact of Sextortion
Sextortion can have a significant emotional toll on victims, including:
- Shame and Embarrassment: Victims often feel ashamed, even though they are not at fault.
- Anxiety and Fear: The constant threat of exposure can lead to heightened anxiety.
- Isolation: Victims may withdraw from friends and family out of embarrassment.
If you’re struggling emotionally, know that support is available. Speaking to a trusted person or seeking professional help can make a huge difference.
How to Protect Yourself from Sextortion
The National Crime Agency (NCA) recommends the following steps to stay safe online:
- Review Privacy Settings: Ensure your social media accounts are set to private, preventing strangers from accessing your information.
- Be Cautious of Unfamiliar Contacts: Avoid engaging with unknown profiles, especially if conversations turn intimate quickly.
- Limit Personal Sharing: Think twice before sharing intimate content, even with someone you trust.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Protect your accounts with extra security layers to prevent hacking.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Parents should have open, non-judgmental conversations with children about online risks.
What to Do if You’re a Victim of Sextortion
If you’ve been targeted, it’s natural to feel distressed. Remember, you’ve been deceived—it’s not your fault. The most important thing you can do is seek help.
1. Pause
- Stop all contact: Block the scammer on all platforms.
- Don’t pay: Paying rarely stops the threats and often leads to further demands.
- Keep evidence: Save messages, images, and transaction details.
- Deactivate, don’t delete: Deactivating social media preserves data for law enforcement.
- Document shared content: If images are posted online, collect URLs but avoid sharing them with others.
2. Report (for Adults)
- Contact the police: Call 101 or 999 if you're at immediate risk.
- Report the platform: Notify the app or website where the scam occurred.
- Use Stop NCII: This free tool helps detect and remove intimate images from being shared online.
3. Report (for Under 18s)
If you’re under 18, speak to a trusted adult. If you can’t, report directly to the CEOP Safety Centre.
You can also:
- Use Report Remove: A tool from Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation to take down shared or potentially shared images.
- Try Take It Down: A service from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to prevent further sharing of intimate content.
- Report the platform: Inform the app, website, or social media platform where the incident occurred.
Understanding Your Legal Rights
Sextortion is a criminal offense under the Sexual Offenses Act 2003 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988. It is illegal to:
- Threaten to share intimate images without consent.
- Share or distribute intimate images of someone without their permission (commonly known as "revenge porn").
- Use blackmail to extort money or other demands.
If you are a victim, you have the right to report the crime and seek support without judgment.
Support and Resources
If you’ve been affected by sextortion, several organisations can offer support:
- Action Fraud: Report scams and fraudulent activity here and receive further advice from our team by contacting 0300 123 2040
- CEOP Safety Centre: For children and young people facing online abuse – www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre.
- Childline: Free, confidential support for young people – call 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
- The Revenge Porn Helpline: Confidential advice for adult victims – www.revengepornhelpline.org.uk.
- Samaritans: Emotional support available 24/7 – call 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.