Understanding Sextortion
‘Sextortion’ is the short name for ‘financially motivated sexual extortion’. It is a type of online blackmail where criminals threaten to share sexual pictures, videos, or information about you. They may be trying to take money from you or forcing you to do something else you don’t want to.
Anyone can be a victim of sextortion. However, young people aged between 15 to 17, and adults aged under 30 are often most at risk.
If you or someone else is in severe distress
If you are in severe distress and are thinking about harming yourself, call 999 immediately. You should also call 999 if you are worried about someone else who has been a victim of this crime.
You can also find help for suicidal thoughts at the NHS.
How to recognise sextortion
Sextortion can be committed by individuals, but organised crime gangs are usually behind it.
Criminals often target people through dating apps, social media, webcams, or pornography sites. They may use a fake identity to befriend you online. If a person you’ve just met online chats to you in a sexual way, or asks for sexual images, it might be an attempt at sextortion.
You should be wary if someone you’ve met online:
- is trying to start a relationship with you very quickly (they may even send you a sexual image first)
- has sent friend requests to lots of people, not just you
- repeatedly asks you to do sexual things that you’re not comfortable with
- tells you they’ve hacked your account or have access to your contacts
Sextortion attempts can happen very quickly, or they can happen over a long time. You should never share sexual images or information about yourself if you are not comfortable.
Tips for protecting yourself
If you are chatting to new people online:
- Review your privacy settings. Criminals are less likely to target you if they can’t see who your friends and family are.
- If you’re not comfortable speaking to the person or being contacted by someone you don’t know, end the chat quickly.
- If you have any doubts about the person or are worried you are being targeted, report it. Alternatively, see ‘Useful links’ further down this page for further advice on staying safe. This includes knowing how to report or remove images from the web.
What to do if you've been targeted
If you are a victim of sextortion, it’s not your fault. There is help and support available.
- Don’t panic, help and support is available.
- Stop all communication with the offender immediately.
- Don’t pay, even if you are tempted, as there is no guarantee that this will stop the threats.
- Save the evidence:
- take screenshots
- save messages and images
- make a note of usernames, email addresses, phone numbers and bank account numbers
- Collect url links to where your images or information is being shared online.
Most social media sites have rules against sharing intimate content without consent. You should be able to get the material removed.
If you’ve paid the person, consider telling your bank. They may not be able to get any money back but it helps us and the banks to know it’s happened.
Report it
We understand that it might be difficult to report this type of crime to us. We’re here to listen and support you in any way we can.
You can report intimate image abuse to us:
- by calling 101
- if you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101
- if you are under 18, you can report sextortion, or any other form of online child sexual abuse, to the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Safety Centre
Useful links for Adults
- Revenge Porn Online gives free, confidential help to victims living in the UK.
- Stop NCII (Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse) is a free tool to help detect and remove images from being shared online.
- Samaritans is a free, confidential listening service for any issue.
- Get safe online provides factual and easy to understand information on online safety.
Useful links for
Children and young people
- Report Remove allows you to confidentially report sexual images and videos of yourself and get them removed from the internet.
- Childline gives free, confidential support for young people under the age of 19.
- Young Minds is a mental health charity for children and young people with 24 hours a day, seven days a week text support.
- Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) Education gives advice for parents, children, and young people on staying safe from sexual abuse and online grooming.
Other help
- National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) can help if you’ve been the victim of phishing or hacking, or need advice on protecting your data online.
- Action Fraud – Romance Fraud can help if you think a partner you met online is trying to get money from you but isn’t threatening or extorting you. This is known as ‘romance fraud’.
Sextortion is a serious online threat that can have devastating consequences for its victims.
By understanding what sextortion is and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to this form of exploitation. Remember to stay vigilant, be cautious with your online interactions, and seek support if you ever find yourself in a distressing situation.
Sextortion in the News
- Pupils get rare alert over dangers of sextortion – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68918550
- Alert issued to ALL UK children over online ‘sextortion epidemic’: Police warn foreign gangs are blackmailing hundreds of kids over intimate pics – as mother of victim, 16, who took his own life issues plea to other desperate youngsters – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13364063/Schools-sextortion-epidemic-alert-Teachers-warned-foreign-gangs-blackmailing-hundreds-children-online-intimate-pics-mother-boy-16-killed-tells-victims-no-matter-terrified-feel-fixed.html
- Ben was 14 when he was blackmailed online into sending explicit pictures. He tried to take his own life. But, unlike some other victims of ‘sextortion’, he survived to tell a story every parent should read – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13372111/blackmailed-online-explicit-pictures-life-victims-sextortion-survived-parent-read.html
Sextortion is a serious online threat that can have devastating consequences for its victims.
By understanding what sextortion is and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to this form of exploitation. Remember to stay vigilant, be cautious with your online interactions, and seek support if you ever find yourself in a distressing situation.
What is Sextortion?
Sextortion typically begins when a perpetrator gains access to intimate images or videos of an individual, often through social media, online chats, or email. They then use these materials to blackmail the victim, threatening to share them publicly unless their demands are met. These demands can range from more explicit material to money or even personal information.
How Does Sextortion Happen?
- Sextortion can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Perpetrators often use various tactics to manipulate and exploit their victims:
- Gaining Trust: Perpetrators may establish a relationship with their victims, gaining their trust before exploiting them.
- False Identities: They might create fake profiles or personas to deceive their victims into sharing intimate material.
- Coercion and Threats: Perpetrators use threats, coercion, and emotional manipulation to pressure victims into complying with their demands.
Preventing Sextortion
While Sextortion can be a distressing experience, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce the risk:
- Be Mindful of Sharing: Think twice before sharing intimate images or videos online, even with someone you trust. Once shared, you lose control over how they are used or distributed.
- Privacy Settings: Review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see your posts and personal information.
- Stay Vigilant: Be cautious when interacting with strangers online, especially those who seem overly interested in your personal life or request intimate material.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect you’re being targeted or blackmailed, report the incident to the relevant authorities, such as the police or your internet service provider.
- Seek Support: If you’re a victim of sextortion, remember that you’re not alone. Reach out to friends, family, or support organizations for help and guidance.