--- title: "Introduction To Sextortion Scams" canonical: https://romancescamsnow.com/rsn-guide-to-sextortion/ type: post author: "SCARS Institute Editorial Team" published: 2018-04-23 modified: 2024-05-05 categories: ["2018", "2024", "Guides", "Sextortion", "♦ HOW SCAMS WORK"] summary: "" organization: "SCARS Institute - Encyclopedia of Scans - World's #1 Anti-Scam Website - Romance Scams NOW" organization_url: https://romancescamsnow.com/ llms: https://romancescamsnow.com/llms.txt --- # Introduction To Sextortion Scams # Introduction To Sextortion Scams ## Sextortion employs non-physical forms of coercion to extort sexual favors from the victim or uses intimate photos or videos to extort money from the victims! ### It is a form of blackmail and is a crime worldwide ##### Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. ##### Originally Published: 2018 - Article Updated: 2024 ## Article Abstract Sextortion, the coercive act of blackmail using intimate images or videos obtained through webcam interactions or online exchanges, targets individuals of all ages, with a significant impact on teenagers. Criminals, often posing as someone else online, lure victims into performing sexual acts, recording them, and threatening to share the footage with their contacts unless paid. This crime, facilitated by organized groups, can lead to extreme emotional distress, and tragically, has resulted in suicides. Victims are advised not to comply with demands, preserve evidence, block communication, and report the crime to authorities. Support is available for victims, with resources provided for both parents and peers to recognize and address sextortion cases promptly. Ultimately, awareness, vigilance, and swift action are crucial in combatting this pervasive digital threat. **More Sextortion Information is available here: [Sextortion Victims Support - The Essentials - 2024 (scamvictimssupport.org)](https://scamvictimssupport.org/sextortion-victims-support-the-essentials-2024/)** ### SCARS Recommended Books ## What Is Sextortion? ## Basically, Sextortion Is Webcam Or Intimate Photos Or Videos Blackmail! Many people use webcams for flirting and cybersex, or send intimate photos or videos of themselves to online strangers - but sometimes people you meet online aren't who they say they are. Criminals might befriend victims online by using a fake identity and then persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of their webcam, often by using an attractive woman to entice the victim to participate. These women may have been coerced into these actions using financial incentives or threats. These webcam videos are recorded by the criminals who then threaten to share the images with the victims’ friends and family. This can make the victims feel extremely ashamed and embarrassed and, tragically, here in the UK at least four young men have taken their own lives after being targeted in this way. Both men and women can be victims of this crime, either by being blackmailed or by being coerced into carrying out sexual acts. The best way to stop yourself from becoming a victim is to be very careful about who you befriend online, especially if you’re considering sharing anything intimate with them. ## Who Is Behind This Crime The evidence shows that organized crime groups – mostly based overseas ­- are behind this crime. For them, it's a low-risk way to make money and they can reach many victims easily online. Victims are often worried about reporting these offenses to the police because they are embarrassed. # What To Do If You're A Victim Of Sextortion If someone threatens to share explicit images of you unless you pay them money: ## Don't Panic Contact your local police and internet service provider immediately. The police will take your case seriously, will deal with it in confidence, and will not judge you for being in this situation. ## Don't Communicate Further With The Criminals Take screenshots of all your communication. Suspend your Facebook account (but don’t delete it) and use the online reporting process to report the matter to Skype, YouTube, etc. to have any video blocked and to set up an alert in case the video resurfaces. Deactivating the Facebook account temporarily rather than shutting it down will mean the data are preserved and will help police to collect evidence. The account can also be reactivated at any time so your online memories are not lost forever. Also, keep an eye on all the accounts which you might have linked in case the criminals try to contact you via one of those. ## Don't Pay Many victims who have paid have continued to get more demands for higher amounts of money. In some cases, even when the demands have been met the offenders will still go on to post 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 Make a note of all details provided by the offenders, for example; the Skype name (particularly the Skype ID), the Facebook URL; the Western Union or MoneyGram Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN); any photos/videos that were sent, etc. Be aware that the scammer's Skype name is different to their Skype ID, and it's the ID details that police will need. To get that, right-click on their profile, select ‘View Profile’ and then look for the name shown in blue rather than the one above it in black. It'll be next to the word ’Skype’ and will have no spaces in it. DO NOT DELETE ANY CORRESPONDENCE. ## Remember that you're the victim of organized criminals - you're not alone and confidential support is available. You can get through this. ### We strongly recommend that you also read this: [Sextortion Victims Support - The Essentials - 2024 (scamvictimssupport.org)](https://scamvictimssupport.org/sextortion-victims-support-the-essentials-2024/)