Latest news with #sextortion
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
Chilling tactics sick sextortion scammers use to lure kids into sending naked pics & why YOU could be their next target
BRITS have been warned about what sextortion scammers look out for in victims - and how to avoid falling into their trap. Teenage boys are at particular risk of being targeted by Nigerian sextortion gangs posing as young women, according to the National Crime Agency. 3 3 3 But a charity has warned that the problem can strike at any age or gender. Sextortion is a cybercrime in which criminals use fake identities to befriend victims online before persuading them to perform sexual acts on camera. These images or videos are then recorded, and the criminals threaten to share them online unless victims pay up - though demands for money don't usually stop there. In a number of tragic cases it has driven kids to suicide. Scottish teen Murray Dowey, 16, took his own life in 2023 after he was tricked into sending an intimate image before it was used to blackmail him. And in 2022, Jordan DeMay, 17, died by suicide after he too was targeted online by a criminal gang posing as a teenage girl. Along with Nigeria, fraudsters often come from the Ivory Coast and the Philippines. "They often target those with the ability to pay and who would have a lot to lose if the video is shared," a spokesperson for The Cyber Helpline told The Sun. "The most important thing for victims to remember is that if this is happening to them, they are likely the victim of organised and highly-experienced criminals - they are not alone and confidential support is available." The NCA's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command Safety Centre received 380 reports of sextortion in 2024. Between January 2024 and January 2025, 19 per cent of victims using The Cyber Helpline's services for support from sextortion crimes were male. But the charity believes the number is not indicative of the actual gender balance among sextortion crimes, knowing men are less likely than women to report or seek support for these kinds of issues because of feelings of embarrassment and shame amongst men associated with crimes of a sexual nature. Men most likely to fall victim to revenge porn were between the ages of 18 and 24 (37.5%), closely followed by 25 to 39 year-olds (31.3%). But The Cyber Helpline says it has worked with victims across all ages, including 21.9% of victims sitting within the ages of 40 to 66 years old, and 9.3% being between the ages of 13 to 17. Who do sextortion scammers target? The Cyber Helpline says there is no single 'type' of person who falls victim to sextortion, warning that anyone can be targeted. However, some patterns do emerge. For example, young men seeking online relationships or casual encounters, especially those flattered by attention, are often disproportionately targeted. But ultimately, the success of these scams depends far more on timing and emotional vulnerability than on personality traits. "Many victims are simply caught off-guard during periods of loneliness, stress, or curiosity - moments when judgement may be impaired," a spokesperson for The Cyber Helpline said. "The impact can be profound, often leading to anxiety, shame, and even suicidal thoughts. The emotional toll is often what traps victims in silence. "That's why it's essential to remove the stigma, reinforce the message that victims are not to blame, and encourage reporting and seeking help. "Scams rely on secrecy. Breaking that silence is the first step to recovery and justice." So what should everyone do to avoid falling victim to a sextortion scam? 1. Trust your gut If it feels too good to be true, then it probably is, the Cyber Helpline says. If you feel something is wrong and you are being asked to do things you are uncomfortable with, then put an end to the conversation immediately and seek advice. 2. Be careful of requests for sexual acts Avoid situations where you remove clothes or perform sexual acts online. This can include in front of a webcam, digital camera or smartphone. The minute that information goes online or comes into someone else's possession, you immediately lose control of it. 3. Be careful who you connect to on social media or dating sites Do not accept friend requests from complete strangers and be incredibly wary of direct messages from strangers. Use a different email address on dating sites and make sure the email address doesn't give away any personal details such as your full name. And don't assume that it's a safe contact just because you have mutual friends. "A scammer may connect with your friends first to appear genuine before targeting your account," warned Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, at web security firm ESET. "It's important to do your due diligence and verify any authentic connections on anyone you meet online too, before engaging in anything that may lead to sensitive communications." 4. Think about your online privacy and security Avoid sharing sensitive information about yourself online, such as address and contact details. Review your social media profiles and remove anything that can be used against you. Ensure you have strong security in place on your online accounts. What to do if you fall victim to a sextortion Report it Contact your local police station. The police will take your case seriously, will deal with it in confidence and will not judge you for being in this situation. You should also report this to your internet service provider who will be able to preserve any evidence they have relating to the communications from the criminals and to the provider the recorded call was made on. Victim under 18 years of age should, in coordination with a trusted adult if possible, report the crime to the CEOP, a government team dedicated to helping victims of child exploitation and furthering online protection for minors, in addition to your local police station. Cut communications Don't communicate further with the criminals. Don't pay Many victims who have paid in the belief that the perpetrators will fulfil their promise of deleting the recordings, instead continue to receive more demands for higher amounts of money from the perpetrators. In some cases, even when the demands have been met the offenders will still go on to post the explicit videos. If you have already paid, check to see if the money has been collected. If it has, and if you are able, then make a note of where it was collected from. If it hasn't, then you can cancel the payment - and the sooner you do that the better. Preserve evidence Take screenshots of all your communication. Make a note of all details provided by the offenders, for example; the Zoom/Google Teams name (particularly the ID if possible), the Facebook URL; the Western Union or MoneyGram Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN); the virtual currency payment details; any photos/videos that were sent, etc. Importantly, do not delete any correspondence. Block sharing If you have a copy of the content -then you may be able to block it being shared on some platforms. For example, may be able to help prevent images being shared on their partner platforms which include Facebook, TikTok and OnlyFans. Deepfake danger There's also concern about AI and deepfake technology that mean fraudsters don't even need explicit content from you to carry out blackmail. Instead, they can create realistic fake videos using a single image to place your face onto explicit content to threaten you with instead. "Crucially, scammers often pretend to be someone you'd find sexually attractive," The Cyber Helpline says. "For many male victims, this means offenders impersonate young women to initiate flirtatious or sexual conversations. "But the tactic is adaptable — the scammer tailors their persona to the perceived orientation and desires of the target. "This is why awareness and caution are essential, regardless of your sexual orientation. "Offenders typically follow a highly standardised script, and while the platforms they use — from mainstream apps to niche sites — may change, the underlying methods remain consistent." If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Nigerian sextortion ring allegedly linked to NSW teen's death smashed by AFP, 22 arrested
A Nigerian sextortion ring – which is linked to the death of an Aussie teenager – has been smashed by Australian Federal Police (AFP) and international police. The joint operation was led by the FBI, AFP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who were tasked with 'dismantling' an alleged organised crime network responsible for a wave of online sextortion crimes targeting teenagers all over the world. It is alleged the network coerced victims into sending sexually explicit images before threatening to share them unless payment was made. 22 men were arrested as part of the joint police operation, titled Operation Artemis. Two of the 22 were Nigerian-based offenders who are alleged to be linked to the death of a 16-year-old boy in NSW, who took his own life in 2023 after they allegedly threatened to share intimate images with his family and friends if he did not pay them money. In the US, more than 20 teenage suicides were linked to the sextortion network since 2021. Two AFP investigators were sent to Nigeria to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects and assist in the identification of the perpetrators and the victims. Data seized by foreign law enforcement was also analysed by investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), as well as supporting the process to avoid overlap with investigations. There has been a growing sophistication and volume of online abuse attempts targeting Australian children. Between the 2023 and 2024 financial year, the ACCCE received 58,503 reports of online child exploitation locally, including 1554 sextortion-related reports. AFP Acting Commander and leader of the ACCCE Ben Moses said the outcome was a result of international co-operation. 'This global operation sends a clear message to those who exploit children online. Law enforcement is united and determined to find you — no matter where you hide,' he said. 'These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. 'Thanks to the co-ordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Sexting criminals linked to suicide of Aussie teen nabbed in Nigeria in AFP sting
A sinister group of organised criminals who allegedly preyed on young Australian teens, including a 16-year-old boy who suicided, have been nabbed in an international sting targeting online sextortion. Two of the 22 suspects nabbed in Nigeria are linked to the death of the child in NSW in 2023. The AFP worked with the FBI, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to shut down the group allegedly responsible for a wave of sextortion targeting thousands of teenagers globally. The network's scheme, which coerced victims into sharing sexually explicit images before threatening to distribute those images unless payment was made, had devastating consequences. In the United States alone, more than 20 teenage suicides have been linked to sextortion-related cases since 2021. While many victims were based in North America, the ripple effects of the offending extended to Australia and other nations. During the operation, two AFP investigators deployed in Nigeria were able to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects, and assist in the identification of both perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also provided expert analysis on data seized by foreign law enforcement and supported processes to avoid overlap with local investigations. Their efforts created a measurable result locally – in the 2023–2024 financial year, the ACCCE received a total of 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1554 sextortion-related reports. These figures reflect the growing sophistication and volume of online abuse attempts targeting Australian children. The targeting of Australian children by offenders online remains ongoing however, and the ACCCE continues to receive reports of sextortion from members of the community. AFP Acting Commander Ben Moses, who leads the ACCCE, described the outcome as a powerful example of what could be achieved through international co-operation. 'This global operation sends a clear message to those who exploit children online. Law enforcement is united and determined to find you — no matter where you hide,' Acting Commander Moses said. 'These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. 'Thanks to the co-ordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia.' While a reduction in reports is encouraging, the AFP warns the risks to children and young people remain and the community should be vigilant about online safety. The AFP continues to work with state and territory police to support victims of sextortion and other malicious online activity. Victim support includes referrals to specialist mental health services, as well as collaboration with online platforms to have harmful content removed. The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping online child sexual exploitation, and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combating child abuse. The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment. The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed the online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people, aged 13 to 17, and is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites. The ACCCE has also created a dedicated sextortion help page with resources and information on how to report sextortion.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen's family fights for change after sextortion scam leads to death
Elijah Heacock was a vibrant teen who made people smile. He "wasn't depressed, he wasn't sad, he wasn't angry," father John Burnett told CBS Saturday Morning. But when Elijah received a threatening text with an A.I.-generated nude photo of himself demanding he pay $3,000 to keep it from being sent to friends and family, everything changed. He died by suicide shortly after receiving the message, CBS affiliate KFDA reported. Burnett and Elijah's mother, Shannon Heacock, didn't know what had happened until they found the messages on his phone. Elijah was the victim of a sextortion scam, where bad actors target young people online and threaten to release explicit images of them. Scammers often ask for money or coerce their victims into performing harmful acts. Elijah's parents said they had never even heard of the term until the investigation into his death. "The people that are after our children are well organized," Burnett said. "They are well financed, and they are don't need the photos to be real, they can generate whatever they want, and then they use it to blackmail the child." The origins of sextortion scams Reports of the scheme have skyrocketed: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said it received more than 500,000 reports of sextortion scams targeting minors in just the last year. At least 20 young people have taken their own lives because of sextortion scams since 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates. Teen boys have been specifically targeted, the NCMEC said in 2023, and with the rise in generative A.I. services, the images don't even need to be real. More than 100,000 reports filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children this year involved generative A.I., the organization said. "You don't actually need any technical skills at this point to create this kind of illegal and harmful material," Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, the head of data science at Thorn, a non-profit focused on preventing child exploitation online, said. Just looking up how to make a nude image of someone will bring up search results for apps, websites and other resources, Portnoff said. The crisis may seem overwhelming. But there are solutions, Portnoff said. Thorn has its own initiative, "Safety By Design," which outlines barriers A.I. companies should set when developing their technology. Those barriers are designed to help reduce sextortion, Thorn said. A handful of major A.I. companies have agreed to the campaign principles, Thorn says. "There are real, tangible solutions that do exist that are being deployed today that can help to prevent this kind of misuse," Portnoff said. Government entities are also working to fight sextortion. The recently-passed "Take It Down" Act, championed by Melania Trump and signed into law by President Trump, makes it a federal crime to post real and fake sexually explicit images of someone online without their consent. The law also requires social media companies and other websites to remove such images within 48 hours of a victim's request. Elijah's parents said they never want other families to suffer like they have. They have fought for change, CBS affiliate WLKY reported. They said they hope the "Take It Down" Act will make a difference. "It's kind of like a bullet in a war. It's not going to win the war," Burnett said. "No war is ever won by one bullet. You got to win battles. You got to win fights. And we're in it." Trump says Musk is "not really leaving" as DOGE savings lag behind projections How a toddler's brave walk into the darkness to get help inspired his family California track and field final begins with new rules for transgender athletes
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
A teen died after being blackmailed with A.I.-generated nudes. His family is fighting for change
Elijah Heacock was a vibrant teen who made people smile. He "wasn't depressed, he wasn't sad, he wasn't angry," father John Burnett told CBS Saturday Morning. But when Elijah received a threatening text with an A.I.-generated nude photo of himself demanding he pay $3,000 to keep it from being sent to friends and family, everything changed. He died by suicide shortly after receiving the message, CBS affiliate KFDA reported. Burnett and Elijah's mother, Shannon Heacock, didn't know what had happened until they found the messages on his phone. Elijah was the victim of a sextortion scam, where bad actors target young people online and threaten to release explicit images of them. Scammers often ask for money or coerce their victims into performing harmful acts. Elijah's parents said they had never even heard of the term until the investigation into his death. "The people that are after our children are well organized," Burnett said. "They are well financed, and they are don't need the photos to be real, they can generate whatever they want, and then they use it to blackmail the child." Elijah Heacock, left, and John Burnett, center, with Heacock's younger brother. CBS Saturday Morning The origins of sextortion scams Reports of the scheme have skyrocketed: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said it received more than 500,000 reports of sextortion scams targeting minors in just the last year. At least 20 young people have taken their own lives because of sextortion scams since 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates. Teen boys have been specifically targeted, the NCMEC said in 2023, and with the rise in generative A.I. services, the images don't even need to be real. More than 100,000 reports filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children this year involved generative A.I., the organization said. "You don't actually need any technical skills at this point to create this kind of illegal and harmful material," Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, the head of data science at Thorn, a non-profit focused on preventing child exploitation online, said. Just looking up how to make a nude image of someone will bring up search results for apps, websites and other resources, Portnoff said. The crisis may seem overwhelming. But there are solutions, Portnoff said. Thorn has its own initiative, "Safety By Design," which outlines barriers A.I. companies should set when developing their technology. Those barriers are designed to help reduce sextortion, Thorn said. A handful of major A.I. companies have agreed to the campaign principles, Thorn says. "There are real, tangible solutions that do exist that are being deployed today that can help to prevent this kind of misuse," Portnoff said. Government entities are also working to fight sextortion. The recently-passed "Take It Down" Act, championed by Melania Trump and signed into law by President Trump, makes it a federal crime to post real and fake sexually explicit images of someone online without their consent. The law also requires social media companies and other websites to remove such images within 48 hours of a victim's request. Elijah's parents said they never want other families to suffer like they have. They have fought for change, CBS affiliate WLKY reported. They said they hope the "Take It Down" Act will make a difference. "It's kind of like a bullet in a war. It's not going to win the war," Burnett said. "No war is ever won by one bullet. You got to win battles. You got to win fights. And we're in it."
