Sextortion is a scam in which mostly male victims of online acquaintances are asked to send sexual images and video material of themselves or to appear naked in front of the webcam. Blackmail: Pay or the material will be published on the Internet!

You meet an attractive woman on a social network or dating platform and start a harmless flirtation. Communication becomes very intimate. Your online acquaintance sends you erotic messages and shows sexual interest. You should also send revealing photos or videos. Be careful: this is sextortion!

Criminals could also be hiding behind an online acquaintance!

What is sextortion?
The term sextortion is made up of “sex” and the English word for blackmail (extortion) and means blackmail with sexual images and videos.
In this scam, criminals usually pose as an attractive woman on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, etc. and begin a casual flirtation with their victims. This develops into erotic conversations. At some point the online acquaintance wants provocative pictures or videos. Victims are also asked to pose naked in front of the webcam or film themselves performing sexual acts.
The attractive online acquaintance promises to send photos and videos of themselves in return. Photos or videos are often sent in advance. But this is image or video material from the internet! If the victim agrees, these photos and videos are saved and the victims are blackmailed with them.
The victim is threatened that the material will be published on the Internet unless a certain amount of money is paid. Sextortion
Behind online acquaintances are criminals who skillfully manipulate you in order to obtain intimate photo and video material.
Sextortion on Snapchat & Skype
Contact takes place on all common platforms.
However, communication is very often shifted to Snapchat. The platform is better suited for exchanging erotic images or videos, as these automatically disappear after a few seconds. But be careful: pictures and videos that you send via Snapchat will be saved by your fraudulent online acquaintances.
This is possible, for example, with screenshots or screen recording tools. You will then be blackmailed with this image and video material! The online acquaintance specifically manipulates the other person and inspires trust.
Often the Internet flirt even sends provocative pictures or videos first. Remember: These are not from your chat partner! They come from specific websites. Conversation is very often moved to video platforms such as Skype. There you will be asked to pose naked in front of the camera or to perform sexual acts on yourself. In order to give you an incentive, your online acquaintance makes you believe that you are also performing sexual acts on yourself. Attention: These are recorded videos from porn websites. The criminals never show themselves!

How to protect yourself from sextortion

Friend requests from strangers
Do not accept friend requests from strangers!
Check the setting options in your social networks. When chatting with strangers,
do not reveal any personal information such as address, employer, date of birth, etc.!
Video chat
Don't agree to a video chat too quickly.
First, tape off the camera and observe the situation. Photos & Videos
Do not send revealing photos or videos or perform sexual or erotic acts in front of the camera.
Not even if your online acquaintance has already sent something from themselves! Fake profiles
Remember that a completely different person can be hidden behind an online profile.

I'm being blackmailed - what can I do?

  • Do not transfer any money! The blackmail doesn't stop!
  • Break off contact! Stop responding to messages and don't let yourself be intimidated!
  • File a police report. To do this, save the chat histories as evidence.
  • Search yourself regularly on the Internet. Using “reverse image search” you may be able to find websites where your images and videos have been published.

How to Do a Reverse Image Search!
If images appear, ask the site operators to delete content. The Internet Ombudsman will support you in an emergency!
Advice & Help:
For specific advice requests, please contact the relevant offices that we have listed for you Advice & Help www.watchlist-internet.at/beratung-hilfe

Source: Watchlist Internet


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )