Imagine you meet someone friendly online, maybe you might even want to date them. The chat quickly shifts from video games and school to asking for explicit images. You comply because this is someone you may trust or be interested in. Then they start asking for money, and threaten to release the photos if you don’t send it. You may be scared or even embarrassed by what people will think, and comply. But remember, sextortion is never your fault. The abuser is always in the wrong, no matter what you send. Always contact law enforcement or a help center before sharing financial information or money. This is financial sextortion, and it is a growing issue among teenagers all over America. 

What is Financial Sextortion?

Financial sextortion differs from sexually motivated sextortion in that it is purely financially motivated. Financial sextortion is a form of online scam where perpetrators obtain explicit images of the victim and blackmail them for money. These crimes are often carried out by criminal organizations focused on scams and financial gain. 

This past year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported that they received 812 alerts for financial sextortion a week. NCMEC found that 90% of the victims were found to be teenage boys between 14 and 17. They also found that the majority of victims were from the US. This is a huge issue, as many victims feel alone and afraid. There have been numerous reports of victims committing self-harm or suicide. If you are a victim of sextortion and have been having harmful thoughts, please contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST or call 988, a 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Sextortion can also be sexually motivated. Perpetrators in those cases will blackmail the victims with the release of their sexual images, pressuring them to create and send more sexual images or videos.  In some cases, other youth can commit sexually motivated sextortion and financial sextortion. A recent case in New York highlights this issue. 

What are the Common Tactics of Perpetrators?

Gaining the victim’s trust

Perpetrators will often establish trust with tactics like posing as a peer or someone from a different school. They may message teenagers on social media, saying they are a friend of one of their friends. Remember, follower lists are easily accessible on platforms like Instagram. The perpetrator may say things that make the victim feel less alone or that they are romantically interested in them. The perpetrator may ask personal questions like “Who is your crush?”, or “Have you ever had sex or kissed anyone before?”, or “No one has to know, just tell me how you really feel.” The perpetrator may even send explicit images first, insinuating that they “trust” the victim, and that the victim should reciprocate the behavior. If they know the victim is interested in girls, they may pose as a girl and send other explicit images of girls they have obtained from previous victims. After a sexual conversation, images or videos are exchanged, the perpetrator may threaten to send the images or videos to the victim’s friends to expose them unless money is sent.

Offering rewards or benefits

The perpetrator may also use the tactic of promising gifts or favors in exchange for explicit images or messages. They may offer modeling contracts, online game credits, or even gift cards. However, once these images are sent, they will blackmail the victim into sending them money.

Catfishing

Perpetrators often use catfishing to build a false sense of trust with victims. With today’s AI tools, creating highly realistic — even explicit — images of fake people has become quick and easy. In the past, people were told to ask for a special pose or a hand showing a certain number of fingers to confirm someone was real. Unfortunately, AI can now generate convincing responses to these requests, making that method very unreliable.

Scammers can also take personal details you share online and combine them with photos of people you might know, then use AI to impersonate them. This makes the fake identity seem even more believable. Be cautious of suspicious accounts or new “friends” who ask for personal information or explicit images.

Threatening to Expose Victims

With today’s AI tools, scammers can create fake explicit images from something as simple as a profile photo. They may then use these fake images to blackmail victims for money. This means that even if you have never shared any private photos or messages, AI makes it possible for others to fabricate them and use them against you. Always keep your social media accounts private. If this does happen to you, contact a help line or law enforcement right away. 

Often, the perpetrator will scare the victim by exaggerating the severity of the situation. NCMEC found that the majority of threats focused on the risk of others seeing the victim’s intimate messages or images. Additionally, many perpetrators will set a tight deadline, such as only a couple of hours. This pressure makes it hard for victims to think clearly. As a result, they are more likely to pay quickly without considering their options. Perpetrators use various intimidation tactics to pressure victims into sending more money or sending it more quickly. Some of the most significant are that perpetrators will scare victims about the possibility that these images would ruin their future careers or academic prospects. 

Examples

Below are some example phrases collected by NCMEC and Thorn that are used to scare victims. 

• “I have ur nudes and everything needed to ruin your life.”
• “U will be exempt from universities if u don’t cooperate.”

Perpetrators also use false legal threats to scare children into complying and sending money. When a child sends nude images of themselves, those images legally count as child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Offenders exploit this fact by threatening the child with legal trouble for “producing” or “distributing” CSAM. However, the child is the victim. In fact, many states would not even prosecute a minor for this.

Below are some example phrases collected by NCMEC and Thorn that are used to scare victims. 

• “You will be locked up for 5 years in prison.”
• “You know very well that this is an act of pedophile and that is prohibited by law.”

What if I send them the money? Will it stop?

NCMEC and Thorn found that 27% of victims who paid did not actually deter the threats, and instead resulted in regular follow-up demands and payments. Overall, the median amount of money paid to perpetrators was around $100 a demand. The most commonly requested forms of payment were gift cards or Cash App. Other payment methods requested included PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. Payment methods not only make it hard to track for law enforcement, but are also easily accessible for teenagers without parental approval. 

Where is financial sextortion stemming from?

Financial sextortion is most common amongst organized crime groups. These crime groups often stem from the same countries and use similar scripts, images, and profiles to extort victims. NCMEC and the FBI found that a high number of these financial sextortion crimes originate from Africa, specifically Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. Both countries have a long history of organized online crime, take for example the common “Nigerian Prince” scam, where elderly victims are often targeted to “help” out the prince in exchange for money. The FBI found that the shift in these crimes was partially related to the ease with which they were able to be executed. Interviews of Nigerian perpetrators of financial sextortion explained that it was “easy money.” When one victim doesn’t respond or send funds, it’s easy to move on to the next one. The FBI explains that they target many victims at a time with the same script and profile. This works because if only 2 or 3 victims pay, that is still a couple of hundred dollars. Financial scams and romance scams take longer, more knowledge of the internet, and resources to perform. 

Who are the main groups in these organized crime rings, and what are their strategies?

Two of the largest threat groups are from Nigeria; they are called the Yahoo Boys and the BM Boys (Black Mail Boys). These organized crime groups share scripts and tactics on TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and other platforms, making learning how to financially extort victims accessible. To avoid being detected by these platforms, many of the scripts refer to the victims as “clients,” and Pidgin slang is used. 

• These groups will “bomb” high schools, sports teams, and universities with fake accounts. By following/friending as many people in a target location as they can, they can create the appearance of having “mutual friends”, enforcing trust. This also allows them easy access to use victims’ follower lists as blackmail when threatening to expose compromising material. 
• Groups will use aggressive online stalking to harass victims across multiple accounts. They can collect information such as family relatives, addresses, phone numbers, and even academic/career information from platforms like LinkedIn. This allows perpetrators to bombard victims with specific threats and information that could potentially hurt them. 

What can I do if it happens to me?

Firstly, stay calm. Sextortion is scary, but it is not detrimental to your future. No matter what you sent, sextortion is never your fault. Do not engage with the perpetrator or send them money. Try to document everything. Save all messages, screenshots, and evidence before reporting. Reaching out for help to a friend, teacher, or parent is the best way to initially address the problem. If you don’t feel you have anyone you are comfortable talking to about the issue, there are many resources you can use. 

• Reach out to the NCMEC for support at gethelp@ncmec.org, or you can call 1-800-THE-LOST.
• You can contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.
• For advice and support, you can contact Team HOPE, where volunteers have also experienced sextortion or were sexually exploited. They can offer emotional support to those dealing with difficult situations.
  • Visit missingkids.org/TeamHOPE
  • Call 1-866-305-HOPE (1-866-305-4673) 
• You can contact Thorn by texting “THORN” to 741741 to speak confidentially with a trained counselor on how to handle the situation. 
• Sextortion can cause intense shame, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts — this isn’t permanent, and you can get help. If you feel you might hurt yourself, please call or text 988 or contact local emergency services immediately.

What can I do if it happens to my family member, child, or friend?

Stay calm, remember that your family member/child/friend is likely going through an extreme amount of stress. Reaction of anger and blame will only increase this anxiety. Ensure to let the person know that no matter what they sent, they are the victim and are not at fault. Do not engage with the perpetrator or send them money. Try to document everything. Save all messages, screenshots, and evidence before reporting.

Report the incident immediately to a crisis line like NCMEC or law enforcement. NCMEC has a family advocacy center that can help victims and their families manage difficult situations and provide a collaborative environment for solutions and healing. 

• Reach out to the NCMEC for support at gethelp@ncmec.org, or you can call 1-800-THE-LOST.
• You can contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

Consider seeking support or legal assistance. The National Center for Victims of Violent Crime works with state, local, and federal partners to provide information regarding civil lawsuits against the perpetrator. They also help with referrals to attorneys specializing in sexual exploitation crimes.  

• Visit victimsofcrime.org
• Victim Connect Resource Center: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846) 

If you notice your child or friend pulling away from once-loved activities, expressing suicidal thoughts and hopelessness, or changes in sleep/eating patterns, consider helping them seek mental health support. Outside care from a therapist or counselor may be necessary.  Sextortion is scary and can have long-lasting mental effects on children.

What can teens do to keep themselves safe?

How can I learn more about online child sexual abuse?

To learn more about other forms of online child sexual abuse, its prevalence, and how parents can keep their children safe, visit our Online Child Sexual Abuse page.

Who We Are

ENOUGH ABUSE® is the nation’s oldest citizen-based child advocacy organization, with a 65-year history of improving the lives of vulnerable children. We work in states, nationally, and with international partners to ensure every child’s right to a childhood free from abuse and exploitation.

For over two decades, our primary focus has been to prevent the sexual abuse of children in their homes, communities and online through our effective prevention trainings, education and advocacy.