How to Deal with Sextortion?
Social media is a major catalyst for the widespread nature of sexual extortion online, making it one of the most prevalent cybercrimes. Sextortion consequently shatters lives and pushes victims to despair.
Table of Contents
What is Sextortion?
Sextortion is a non-physical form of coercion where a perpetrator threatens to reveal a victim's intimate images, personal information, or videos unless a demand is met. Demands can be money or additional NSFW content. Sexual extortion is one of the most viral cyber extortions that occurs through social media and popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. These cybercriminals, in most cases, use fake profiles, grow their accounts, and prey on hopeless romantics and emotionally vulnerable people.
Examples of Extortion
Online grooming
Online grooming is a form of extortion executed by perpetrators via social media, dating apps, chatrooms, and the like. Online groomers pretend to be loveable, caring, and trustworthy, making it difficult to smell the rat until it's too late. Once the victim's trust has been earned, they manipulate them to share personal information or explicit images and videos and later use it as leverage to make demands and threats.
Catfishing
Catfishing is a deceitful act where scammers use fake profiles or identities to exploit individuals financially or emotionally. It is one of the most common online extortion scams where romantic relationships are established before requesting money, allowances, personal bank details, or intimate content. In most cases, the aftermath is catastrophic because the victim would feel so comfortable entrusting sensitive data with them, hence leading to psychological trauma, trust issues, and sometimes suicide when they go bankrupt.
Sextortion Email
This approach is easily used to carry out sextortion scams. Fraudsters spam severe email accounts with sextortion emails, claiming that they have gained access to their personal data, browser history, or explicit content on their devices. They attach fabricated files to the email to make their threats seem legitimate, and people who panic easily fall victim. They reply to their emails to meet their demands and avoid embarrassment.
Hacked Webcam Sextortion
This type of cyber extortion has to do with malware, remote access tools (RATs), and phishing links to implant bugs in people's devices, breach privacies, and secretly record intimate or private moments. These hackers threaten to release the footage unless their terms and conditions are met. They make fake promises to delete all copies they have, but instead, keep extorting them. Avoid clicking suspicious links, and cover your webcams if possible to avoid falling victim.
Social Media Sextortion
Social media platforms have become common targets for sextortion scams, where perpetrators use private content to blackmail victims. Awareness and proactive measures are essential to protect yourself from social media sextortion and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Instagram Sextortion
Scammers use fake profiles to coerce victims into sharing explicit content for blackmail.
Snapchat Sextortion
Hackers obtain compromising photos and demand money to prevent their public release.
Facebook Extortion
Fraudsters exploit personal information to threaten victims with exposure if demands aren’t met.
Extortion Cases
Extortion cases occur worldwide, affecting individuals and businesses alike. Criminals use threats and intimidation to coerce victims into giving money or sensitive information. Here are three real-life extortion cases that highlight the impact of this crime:
In 2022, Jordan DeMay fell victim to extortion scams plotted by Nigerian scammers who manipulated him to share explicit images. They threatened to share his nudes publicly, and he committed suicide because he couldn't bear the pressure of sexual extortion.
Jordan DeMay
Daniel Perry was a 17-year-old Scottish teenager when he fell victim to an online sextortion scam in 2013. He was catfished to believe he was in a romantic relationship with a girl, and he was threatened with his nudes till he took his life.
Daniel Perry
In 2015, hackers leaked private user data from Ashley Madison, a dating site for affairs, and sent extortion emails threatening to expose users unless they paid a ransom. The breach led to broken marriages, ruined reputations, and even suicides due to extreme shame and public scrutiny.
Breach Scandal
Define Sextortion
Sextortion is a form of cyber extortion where perpetrators coerce victims into sending intimate content or money by threatening to share sensitive material publicly.
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Requests for Intimate Content
Offenders may repeatedly ask for explicit photos or videos, often using emotional manipulation or coercion.
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Excessive Flattery or Love Bombing
Scammers shower victims with compliments and affection to build trust before making manipulative demands.
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Pressure to Keep Secrets
Victims are urged to hide the relationship or communication from friends and family to maintain control.
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Threats to Share Material
Perpetrators intimidate victims by threatening to release intimate content if demands are not met.
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Requests for Money or Gifts
Scammers demand payments or expensive items in exchange for keeping sensitive material private.
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Anonymous or Fake Profiles
Protect yourself from sextortion by being cautious online, safeguarding personal information, and recognizing warning signs. Always verify the identity of online contacts and avoid sharing intimate content.
How to Avoid Sextortion
Protect yourself from sextortion by being cautious online, safeguarding personal information, and recognizing warning signs. Always verify the identity of online contacts and avoid sharing intimate content.
Be Cautious with Sensitive content
Avoid Suspicious Contacts
Use Strong Privacy Settings
Report Suspicious Behavior
Recognize the Red Flags of Sextortion
Educate Yourself and Others
How to Deal with Extortion
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1
Stop all Communication
Turn off your social media to avoid replying to sexual extortion threats will only help scammers or blackmailers discover your weaknesses and leverage them to enslave your will.
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2
Collect the Evidence
Keep screenshots of communications between both parties, profiles, extortion email, financial transactions, etc, as it might be useful as proof for law enforcement investigations in online extortion scams cases.
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3
Stall As Much As You Can
The common pattern of extortion cases is that extorters give their prey little time to think and meet demands. You need to stall enough to seek legal advice and strategize so you don't get bullied into making rash decisions.
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4
Report to Authorities
Report sextortion online by contacting law enforcement, cybercrime units through the sextortion helpline available in your country or vicinity. You can also use the reporting tools on the messaging platforms, showing them your chats.
Sextortion Crime Statistics
Sextortion crimes in the U.S. continue to rise, affecting individuals across various age groups. Here is a Cyber Extortion statistics that shows both males and females face increasing risks, with teenagers being the most vulnerable targets in 2025.
Is Sextortion a Crime?
Sextortion is a crime and is considered a form of cyber extortion. It involves threatening to share intimate images, videos, or personal information unless the victim meets specific demands, often financial or sexual in nature. Sextortion is punishable under various laws, including those related to blackmail, extortion, and cybercrime. Offenders can face severe legal consequences, such as imprisonment and fines. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to law enforcement and avoid complying with the perpetrator's demands. Legal authorities and support organizations are available to help those affected by sextortion, ensuring justice and protection for victims.
How We Can Help
Are you threatened or blackmailed by sexual extortion scammers? Report sextortion online cases by contacting us through our sextortion helpline and let us handle it professionally. We help bear the burden of a sense of urgency and immediacy through our 24/7 emergency support for victims of online extortion, offering confidential assistance and cyber extortion crisis intervention.
FAQ
Can you sue for extortion?
If you are a victim of extortion, it is within your legal rights to sue or press charges against the extorter, if you have concrete evidence to back it up. Victims who seek compensation for damages such as; emotional distress, financial losses, and reputation harm can file civil lawsuits.
What are the four types of extortion?
Sextortion: Blackmailing victims with their private or intimate images/videos unless they comply with demands.
Kidnapping and Ransom: Abducting individuals and demanding money or favors.
Cyber Extortion: Hackers demand ransom by threatening to leak sensitive data or disrupt a company's operations.
Financial Extortion: Forcing businesses to pay money under threat of harm or exposure.
What is the difference between extortion and blackmail?
Extortion involves physical violence, threats to force someone to unwillingly succumb to demands like giving money,rendering favors, or services. On the other hand, blackmail refers to threats to expose personal or sensitive data to embarrass and destroy the victim's reputation. While all blackmail is a form of extortion, not all extortion cases involve blackmail.
Is sextortion a felony?
Yes, it is. Sex extortion or revenge porn is a grievous offense in most jurisdictions, especially the U.S. It falls under federal and state laws governing extortion, cybercrimes, and data exploitation. The punishment could be fines or prison sentences, depending on the severity of the crime.
What to do if you receive an extortion email?
Online extortion scams are often initiated through emails. Do not respond to threats made when you receive such emails; block the sender immediately. If such threats persist, strengthen your security using 2FA and report extortion emails to law enforcement via the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).