Online sextortion is a form of sexual blackmail. It involves criminals targeting you through:
- dating apps
- social media
- text messages, or
by manipulating you into sharing sexual images or videos that they later use to demand payments under threats of public exposure.
Social media catfishing is when people create false online profiles designed to deceive and manipulate you. They will trick you into believing they are someone else, perhaps forging a strong relationship with you, before asking for money or private details.
To reduce your chances of being catfished, you can:
- make your social media profiles private,
- limit access to personal information, and
- making yourself a less attractive target.
Be cautious online. Keep your camera off when not in use or use a webcam cover. Only turn it on when you choose to and not under pressure. Do not do anything online, written or on camera, that makes you uncomfortable or is forced upon you.
On video chat apps, remember that -contacts- may not be who they claim. Stay alert if unusual requests are made as a relationship develops.
If you have been the victim of sextortion, you can contact our Wellbeing team for further support. We advise you to contact your local police immediately. The police will take your case seriously. They will not judge you and they will deal with your case in confidence.
Do not communicate further with criminals and do not pay any money. Many victims who have paid have continued to get more demands for higher amounts of money.
Preserve evidence. Note all details provided by the offender, for example:
- the email address
- telephone number
- social media account you have been contacted from
- any bank details, and
- any photos and videos you have sent.
Do not feel embarrassed. You can take screen shots of any of your correspondence.
Secure your accounts. Sometimes criminals will include your password in the correspondence to make it seem more legitimate. They have probably discovered this from a previous data breach. You can check if your account has been compromised, and get future notifications, by visiting www.haveibeenpwned.com.
You should report the person to the platform they have contacted you on and block the individual on the platform and/or in your contacts. You can also temporarily de-activate your social media accounts, preserving all your data. You do not need to close your account entirely.
Do not panic. It can be very distressing, but there is help, advice and guidance available. You are not alone. It is important to report any crimes where you have been the victim of online sextortion and to receive the wellbeing support you may need. You can find out more about sextortion crimes here:
www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/sexual-offences/sextortion
To report a crime to the police, call 101 or report it online here at www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-reporta-crime