Sextortion and the Rise of Scams: How to Protect Yourself

Dealing with Digital Extortion: Steps to Safeguard Your Privacy and Respond to Threats

In recent years, sextortion and other forms of scams have surged, leveraging the internet and technology to target individuals in increasingly personal and invasive ways. Sextortion, where individuals are blackmailed with intimate or compromising information, is a dangerous scam preying on fear, guilt, and privacy concerns.

Victims often receive threatening messages demanding money in exchange for the perpetrator not releasing sensitive material or following through on harmful actions, as shown in the example image where a victim is threatened for wasting time with “girls” and coerced into paying a fine.

The rise of such scams has sparked growing concern globally. According to the FBI, sextortion cases often involve scammers obtaining personal information through social engineering, hacking, or even publicly available data and using this to intimidate victims into compliance. Many people, when confronted with these kinds of threats, panic, fearing exposure or physical harm, which is exactly what these criminals count on (FBI, 2023).

Understanding Sextortion

Sextortion scams usually start with innocuous interactions, sometimes on dating apps, social media, or even anonymous platforms. Once the scammer gains access to compromising material—either fabricated or genuine—they send a message threatening to release it unless the victim complies with their demands, usually monetary.

In some instances, the scammer might claim to represent several individuals and threaten “bloodshed” if the victim did not pay a fine. This type of threat, mixing both financial and physical intimidation, is typical of extortion and sextortion scams. As another example from Spokane, Washington highlights, scammers have increasingly been using highly personal information, including addresses and pictures of homes, to pressure victims. One victim reported receiving extortion emails with images of his house, which heightened the fear and urgency to comply (Guenthner, 2024).

Action Steps to Handle Sextortion

One of the obvious steps is to make sure you don’t share any personal information with anyone you meet on the internet. You can use encrypted apps like Telegram to call Or Zangi, but you must use a VPN for further protection. There are many other steps to hide your online identity; know that online interactions must be treated as if walking down a dark alley of the unknown.

Here are a few other steps to help you when you run into these situations:

1. Do Not Engage: The first rule when confronted with sextortion is to avoid engaging with the scammer. Responding may embolden them or provide them with more material to exploit. Scammers thrive on the fear they instill in victims, so disengagement is the first protective step.
2. Do Not Pay: While it may feel tempting to pay the amount demanded to make the problem go away, this often worsens the situation. Paying once may encourage the scammer to return with more demands. Sextortion is not about one transaction but about ongoing manipulation.
3. Document the Threats: Take screenshots or save any communication for evidence. This is crucial if you decide to report the scam to authorities or other organizations. Documentation strengthens your case and provides a clear timeline of the events.
4. Change Passwords and Secure Accounts: Scammers often claim “access” to personal systems or online accounts, which may or may not be accurate. Either way, changing your passwords across all platforms and enabling two-factor authentication can help secure your information. This can prevent potential future hacking attempts or threats.
5. Report the Scam: Reporting these incidents to law enforcement, particularly to specialized agencies such as the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), can help not only in your case but in preventing future attacks. As highlighted in the Spokane case, the FBI emphasizes the importance of reporting scams as part of the more significant effort to combat these crimes (Guenthner, 2024). Even if authorities cannot immediately resolve the case, reporting helps create a database that may lead to larger investigations.
6. Contact a Legal Advocate: If you are uncomfortable contacting the police, turning to a legal advocate or privacy professional may be a helpful alternative. Legal professionals can offer guidance on protecting yourself and provide representation if the situation escalates. They can also assist in contacting relevant authorities or privacy organizations to remove any damaging information.
7. Use Support Networks: Sometimes, victims may feel embarrassed or isolated after receiving sextortion threats. It is important to remember that you are not alone, and many resources are available to support victims of online scams. Reaching out to friends, family, or online support groups can provide emotional support and help you navigate your response.

If You Don’t Trust the Police

Other alternatives exist if contacting law enforcement does not feel like a safe option. Privacy advocacy organizations, like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), provide resources for handling sextortion cases. Similarly, platforms like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) offer guides and helplines for victims of online sexual abuse, including sextortion. In some instances, cybersecurity firms can also help by investigating and protecting against further cyber threats.

A key takeaway from these scams is that criminals prey on fear, and their threats while intimidating, are often empty. In the Spokane case, for example, the scammer’s demands became increasingly aggressive, but their primary objective remained financial gain rather than actual harm (Guenthner, 2024). Recognizing this pattern is essential to defusing the power these scammers attempt to hold over their victims.

Conclusion

The rise of sextortion and similar scams is a reflection of the evolving ways criminals exploit technology for financial gain. By understanding the tactics used and following protective steps, individuals can reduce their risk of falling victim to these schemes. Reporting scams, securing personal information, and seeking legal or professional help when necessary are crucial defenses against these increasingly common crimes.

Sextortion can feel like an intensely personal attack, but by remaining calm, documenting threats, and refusing to engage, victims can regain control and stop the scammer in their tracks.

References

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2023). Internet Crime Report 2023. FBI IC3.

Guenthner, H. (2024). ‘You have no idea what I’m capable of in Spokane’: Extortion scam uses photos of home, personal information to threaten recipients. KHQ.com. Retrieved from https://www.khq.com.