Boy, 13, among rising number of males blackmailed in sextortion scam
New analysis from the Nationwide Building Society reveals that men in their twenties are particularly at risk of falling victim to blackmail scams.
The construction industry’s review of 50 cases found that almost half of those targeted were in their twenties and a striking 98 per cent were men.
The age range of the victims ranges from 13 to 70 years old, underlining how vulnerable we are to these predatory schemes.
Sextortion involves criminals blackmailing individuals by threatening to share private sexual images, videos, or sensitive information unless they receive a reward, usually money.
Perpetrators initiate contact by befriending victims through social media platforms, often using fake identities.
They may engage in sexually explicit conversations by pressuring individuals to present intimate images. Scammers often escalate threats by claiming to have access to the victim’s contact information, intensifying public fears of being subjected to forced compliance.
In one case seen by Nationwide, someone exchanged images and videos with someone they met online. He later received a threatening phone call demanding money.
In another publicly seen case, someone shared private images and the scammer threatened to publish the photos unless he purchased an Apple gift card. The victim told his father about the situation, who reported the situation to the police.
A survey commissioned by Nationwide found that more than half (54 percent) of high school, middle school or college students surveyed think it has become harder to spot scams in general.
The survey was conducted by Censuswide in February among 2,000 people aged 16 and over.
Jim Winters, Nationwide’s head of economic crime, said: “These cases show how fraudsters exploit vulnerability, urgency and embarrassment, especially among young people who have limited experience of fraud or are too embarrassed to seek help early.
“Our insight and research shows how easily private and sensitive information can be used against us.
“The safest way to protect yourself is to not share anything you don’t want to fall into the wrong hands. This may be easier said than done, but the damage here goes far beyond financial.”
How to protect yourself from scams
Here are some suggestions from Nationwide to protect yourself from fraud:
1. Stop and pause before sharing images or personal details. Once shared, there is no turning back. Being rushed is a common tactic used by scammers. They will put people under time pressure to prevent victims from thinking about what they are about to do.
2. Avoid switching to another platform at someone else’s request. Scammers deliberately shift conversations to less secure channels very quickly.
3. Scammers take advantage of panic and urgency, and paying may result in more demands.
4. Talk to someone you trust and report the situation. What scammers rely on is embarrassment. Trusting the police, a friend, family member or bank allows for quicker action and protection.
