Online Sextortion: How it works and what to do if you’re being sextorted

Sextortion is a type of online blackmail where someone threatens to share private sexual images or videos of you with others if you don’t comply with their demands. This can be extremely distressing. However, it is important to know there are steps you can take and you do not have to give to their demands. The demands usually include money, more sexual content and sexual favours. Sextortion is more common than you think and there has been an alarming increase in the number of people being sextorted, including children and teenagers, in the past 3 months.

Many times, the perpetrators do not have any material on you but they will tell you they do and ask you to send more materials if you do not want them to broadcast what they already have to the world. This is usually a ploy to trick you into sending them the very materials they need to blackmail you.

How does sextortion work?

1. The scammer gets compromising material. This might involve:
   1. Tricking you into sending nude photos or videos
   2. Hacking your webcam
   3. Using malware
2. The scammer threatens to share the content with friends, family, or online unless you give in to their demands.

What do you do if you’re being sextorted?

1. Don’t give in to their demands

Sextorters often don’t have any compromising material on you, they just bluff most of the time. However, even if they do have explicit content on you, paying or giving in to their demands just once will only further encourage and embolden them to keep coming as blackmail hardly ever ends.

2. Save the evidence

Save copies and take screenshots of messages, emails, and any online profiles of the scammer.

3. Tell someone you trust

Talk to a parent, friend, teacher, or the police. Their support can make a big difference.

4. Report the abuse

Most social media platforms and messaging apps have reporting tools. You can also report the crime to the police. If you are in the US, you can visit the FBI’s website on sextortion: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion

How to Avoid Sextortion

1. Be careful about who you share explicit content with online
2. Never share your passwords
3. Never click on suspicious links
4. Be careful of online friends who ask for too much information about you, especially videos and images. They usually start by asking for something small and seemingly harmless and they graduate from there to recording your live chats and then asking for explicit content.

By staying informed and taking precautions, you can protect yourself from online sextortion. It is also important that you educate people around you, especially the younger ones, on how to protect themselves from being victims of this criminal act.

Do not forget that sextortion is a crime, and the scammer is the one who is wrong. You should also know that there is help available and you should not be afraid to reach out for support.