In the “sextortion” phenomenon, people become victims of blackmailers after an alleged online flirtation. The criminals get their victims to undress in front of the webcam in a chat and then blackmail them by announcing that they will publish a recorded video or photos on the Internet.

Sextortion: high number of unreported cases

The police crime statistics (PKS) show a new high for 2022 with 109 cases of “blackmail on a sexual basis”, which includes sextortion. In 2021 there were still 62 cases. In the pandemic year 2020, the police in Lower Saxony registered 93 cases - more than twice as many as in 2019 (35). It should be noted that the PKS only records cases with a crime scene in Lower Saxony. This means that cases with an event location “Internet” do not appear in the statistics, even if the victim is at home in Lower Saxony. The LKA Lower Saxony therefore assumes that the actual number of cases in Lower Saxony is likely to be considerably higher. The number of unreported cases of those who may not report the crime out of shame is also not taken into account.

The term “sextortion” is made up of the English words “sex” and “extortion” (translated as “blackmail”). Typically, a “sextortion” begins with a contact via social networks, dating platforms or chat apps. The perpetrator tries to build a relationship with the victim in order to gain their trust. The perpetrators make an “advance payment” and also send naked photos that supposedly show them. During the course of the contact, a sexual act is often requested to be carried out in front of the camera. The perpetrators save recordings of these actions. The resulting material is then used as a means of pressure to extort money. If the victim didn't pay, the pictures would be published on the Internet.

How to protect yourself from sextortion:

  • Do not accept friend requests from strangers on social networks.
  • Check your account and privacy settings regularly.
  • Be cautious about publishing personal information such as address, date of birth or employer.
  • Don't agree to a video chat too quickly.
  • First, tape off the chat camera to only communicate verbally
  • Do not consent to exposure or intimate acts in video chats.
  • First, cover the chat camera and only communicate verbally.
  • Do not send intimate images or videos.
  • Always keep the operating and virus protection systems on your devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets or computers up to date to protect yourself from malicious software, so-called malware. There is malware that easily activates your webcam and can use it to film you at any time.

Are you already being blackmailed?

  • Do not transfer money. The blackmail usually doesn't stop after the payment.
  • Do not respond to additional demands such as creating and sending intimate images and video material.
  • Report it to the police. This can also be done via the online guard: https://www.onlinewache.polizei.niedersachsen.de/
  • Stop contact with the perpetrators immediately and do not respond to messages.
  • Save chat histories and messages using screenshots.
  • Create a search for yourself using a search engine. If the perpetrators actually publish images, you will be informed. Contact the site operator and request that the images be deleted. Inappropriate content can be reported to the site operator using buttons specially set up for this purpose.

Further information is available from the LKA Lower Saxony

Source:

Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office
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