Beware of the ‘Sextortion’ Scam

On Sunday June 25, 2023, a person on Instagram with the username ‘Sandra_jessi2’ followed me on the Instagram platform. we had a conversation in which she claimed to be an american girl.

Later, we swapped our Snapchat users and continued to talk on Snapchat, where things got worse. During our interactions on Snapchat, this person proposed to me to have a sex chat and exchange intimate content, to which I sadly agreed. I was a fool, however, I realized that I had fallen into a trap when the individual revealed his true intention: to extort me and threaten to spread these images to all my Instagram followers.

The blackmailer initially demanded a payment of $500 from me to prevent the disclosure of the photos. When I told him I didn’t have that kind of money, he reduced the amount to $300 and finally settled for $150 and gave me 5 days to pay him.

At that time, I immediately reported this situation to the Instagram platform, who took action and banned the account associated with this incident However, the individual continued to harass me on Snapchat, claiming to have taken screenshots of all my 500 followers and warning me of worse consequences if I blocked him.

Throughout the week I lived in panic and desperation trying to think of a solution, I didn’t want to say it out of shame, until on Friday, June 30, I decided to deactivate my Snapchat account to cut off communication with this person. It’s been more than 6 months since the payment deadline, I didn’t pay anything and blocked it. The individual did not carry out his threat

Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where cybercriminals coerce victims into providing sexual images or performing sexual acts under the threat of exposure. Typically, sextortion begins with a seemingly innocent interaction on social media or a dating app. The scammer, often posing as an attractive person, engages in flirtatious conversation, which quickly escalates to exchanging intimate photos or videos. Once the scammer has compromising material, they demand money or more explicit content, threatening to distribute the images or videos to the victim’s family, friends, or public platforms if their demands are not met.

How Sextortion Scams Operate

According to a study by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), financial sextortion primarily targets boys and young men, with 98% of victims being male. The extorters typically use platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to initiate contact. Here’s a typical sequence of events in a sextortion scam:

1. Initial Contact: The scammer, often using a fake profile, contacts the victim on social media.
2. Conversation Shifts: The conversation moves from the initial platform (e.g., Instagram) to a more private one (e.g., Snapchat).
3. Exchange of Images: The scammer sends a provocative image and persuades the victim to send one back.
4. Blackmail: Once the scammer has the compromising image, they threaten to send it to the victim’s contacts unless a payment is made.
5. Continuous Demands: If the victim complies, the demands for money often continue, with extorters frequently asking for more money.

Platforms and Payment Methods

Scammers exploit various social media platforms due to their design characteristics, which allow easy creation of fake profiles and access to personal information. The most frequently mentioned platforms in sextortion cases include Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Payments are usually demanded through PayPal, gift cards, cryptocurrencies, Cash App, and other online payment services.

Protecting Yourself Against Sextortion

To safeguard against sextortion, it’s crucial to adopt proactive measures and understand how to respond if targeted:

1. Privacy Settings: Ensure your social media accounts are private and be cautious about who you add as friends or followers.
2. Be Skeptical: Be wary of unsolicited friend requests or messages, especially from strangers.
3. Avoid Sharing Intimate Content: Never share explicit images or videos online, even with people you think you can trust.
4. Recognize Red Flags: Poor grammar, rapid escalation to intimate topics, and requests to move conversations to different platforms can indicate a scam.
5. Do Not Pay: If targeted, do not give in to the extorter’s demands. Paying usually leads to further demands.
6. Report and Block: Immediately block the scammer and report the incident to the platform and relevant authorities.

Responding to a Sextortion Attempt

If you find yourself a victim of sextortion, follow these steps:

1. Cease Communication: Stop all interaction with the extorter.
2. Do Not Pay: Understand that paying will likely lead to more demands.
3. Document Everything: Keep records of all communications and threats.
4. Report to Authorities: Contact local law enforcement and report the incident to the social media platform.
5. Seek Support: Reach out to trusted friends, family, or professional support services for help.

Sextortion is a serious and growing threat, especially among young males who are often the primary targets. Understanding how these scams operate and taking proactive steps to protect yourself online is essential. If you do fall victim to a sextortion attempt, remember that paying the extorter is unlikely to resolve the situation and can make it worse. Instead, cease communication, report the incident, and seek support. By staying vigilant and informed, you can better protect yourself from falling prey to these harmful schemes.