This blog is about sexual abuse done in many online apps through bots ...
CONTENTS:
Awareness
How you can be blackmailed
What you should do if you are getting blackmailed
How to report the abuse
Deal with sexual extortion
Sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’ is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video of you unless you give in to their demands. If this happens to you, you’re not alone – there’s help available.
What are the warning signs?
Blackmailers often target people through dating sites, social media and gaming apps.
They pretend to be an attractive person looking for sex, then trick you into sending nudes or sexual images or videos, or record you during a live chat with them.
Once they have an intimate image or video of you, they threaten to share it with your family, friends, or co-workers unless you give them what they want.
These are things to look out for:
- Something needs to be added up. Their online profile doesn’t match what you see and hear when you talk or chat with them.
- It happens too fast. They express strong emotions for you almost immediately, and quickly tempt you to a more private channel, suggesting you get nude or sexual in a video call.
- They make excuses. They say their webcam is not working and instead, they send a nude photo which they claim is of them.
- They pile on the pressure. They keep asking you to be sexual and to send nudes with your face in the shot.
Remember, it’s always OK to say no to sending nudes or getting sexual online.
How you can be blackmailed
Here are some examples of how you might be blackmailed.
Someone hooks you with a fake profile or ‘catfishes’ you
This is when they pretend to be someone they’re not, so they can scam you. It can happen really quickly – often they send a direct message with a ‘sexy pic’ they claim is of them. (But how would you really know? Have you ever seen them live on camera or face to face?) Then they ask you to send a naked selfie or record you getting sexual online.
Next thing, they threaten to share the image or video with your family, friends, or co-workers if you don’t pay them. Usually, they ask you to transfer money or send them cryptocurrency, gift cards, or online game credits.
Someone claims to have hacked your device or account
They falsely claim they have ‘found’ intimate images or videos of you saved on your device or in your account. This person might even use one of your current or former passwords to make you believe it’s true, but you can never be sure if they really do have access.
Then they threaten to share the image or video they claim to have found unless you pay up.
They falsely claim they have ‘found’ intimate images or videos of you saved on your device or in your account. This person might even use one of your current or former passwords to make you believe it’s true, but you can never be sure if they really do have access.
Then they threaten to share the image or video they claim to have found unless you pay up.
Someone ‘grooms’ you
This is when a sexual predator tricks you into thinking you’re in a close relationship, so you feel OK about sending nudes or getting sexual online.
They then say they will make the images or videos public, or hurt you or someone you care about unless you send more nudes or get sexual with them on camera. Grooming usually refers to an older person forming a relationship with someone under 18, and a predator who does this is often called a ‘pedophile’.
Catfishing, scamming, grooming, or blackmailing someone is a crime. Don’t believe the blackmailer if they say they will delete the intimate image or video. If you give them what they want they will just keep asking for more.
This is when a sexual predator tricks you into thinking you’re in a close relationship, so you feel OK about sending nudes or getting sexual online.
They then say they will make the images or videos public, or hurt you or someone you care about unless you send more nudes or get sexual with them on camera. Grooming usually refers to an older person forming a relationship with someone under 18, and a predator who does this is often called a ‘pedophile’.
Catfishing, scamming, grooming, or blackmailing someone is a crime. Don’t believe the blackmailer if they say they will delete the intimate image or video. If you give them what they want they will just keep asking for more.
What should I do if I'm being blackmailed?
Don’t pay the blackmailer or give them more money or intimate content. If you have already paid them by money transfer, you may be able to cancel it.
Before you do anything else, reach out for support. Being blackmailed over your intimate images or videos can be stressful and upsetting. You don’t have to cope on your own. It’s a good idea to tell a friend, family member, co-worker or someone else you trust, so they can help you deal with the situation. Or you can contact a confidential counselling and support service.
Then follow these steps…
Don’t pay the blackmailer or give them more money or intimate content. If you have already paid them by money transfer, you may be able to cancel it.
Before you do anything else, reach out for support. Being blackmailed over your intimate images or videos can be stressful and upsetting. You don’t have to cope on your own. It’s a good idea to tell a friend, family member, co-worker or someone else you trust, so they can help you deal with the situation. Or you can contact a confidential counselling and support service.
Then follow these steps…
1. Collect evidence
Save a record of:
- all contact from the blackmailer, particularly their demands and threats
- how they contacted you – for example, the Facebook URL (web address) where the blackmailer sent you a threat or their usernames on Snapchat, Instagram and any other online platforms
- when they contacted you, including dates and times
- details about the blackmailer – for example, their bank account or phone number
- any reports you have made about the issue to any online platforms or to police.
Taking screenshots or screen recordings, or photos of your screen with another device, is a quick and easy way to collect evidence. Include the threatening messages and blackmailer’s profile. Don’t send your images or videos to any other services.
Find out how to collect evidence, including how to take screenshots on a Mac, Windows PC, Apple devices or Android devices.
Save a record of:
- all contact from the blackmailer, particularly their demands and threats
- how they contacted you – for example, the Facebook URL (web address) where the blackmailer sent you a threat or their usernames on Snapchat, Instagram and any other online platforms
- when they contacted you, including dates and times
- details about the blackmailer – for example, their bank account or phone number
- any reports you have made about the issue to any online platforms or to police.
Taking screenshots or screen recordings, or photos of your screen with another device, is a quick and easy way to collect evidence. Include the threatening messages and blackmailer’s profile. Don’t send your images or videos to any other services.
Find out how to collect evidence, including how to take screenshots on a Mac, Windows PC, Apple devices or Android devices.
3. Stop further contact, tighten security, and prevent sharing
- After you have collected evidence, use in-app functions or your device settings to block the blackmailer and ask your friends to do the same.
- You can also temporarily deactivate your accounts to prevent the blackmailer from harassing you (but don’t delete the accounts, as you may lose evidence that way).
- Review the privacy and security settings of your accounts to limit who can contact you. If you’ve been scammed, change the passwords for your social media and other online accounts. For more information about how to adjust settings on different apps, games, websites, and online platforms and services, If someone claims to have hacked or accessed any of your accounts, find out how to protect your personally identifiable information
- After you have collected evidence, use in-app functions or your device settings to block the blackmailer and ask your friends to do the same.
- You can also temporarily deactivate your accounts to prevent the blackmailer from harassing you (but don’t delete the accounts, as you may lose evidence that way).
- Review the privacy and security settings of your accounts to limit who can contact you. If you’ve been scammed, change the passwords for your social media and other online accounts. For more information about how to adjust settings on different apps, games, websites, and online platforms and services, If someone claims to have hacked or accessed any of your accounts, find out how to protect your personally identifiable information
Prevent the image or video from being shared.
You can block your intimate image or video from being uploaded to specific platforms.
You need to have a copy of the image or video, but you don’t need to send it to the platform –
they will create a digital ‘fingerprint’ (or ‘hash’) instead.
If you’re under 18, you can use takeitdown.ncmec.org –
a free online tool that prevents your image or video being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Yubo, OnlyFans, and Pornhub.
If you’re 18 or older, you can use StopNCII.org –
a free online tool that prevents your image or video being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bumble, OnlyFans and Reddit
4. Get more help
What you’re going through is not easy. Even when it’s over you may need more support.
- Try contacting an expert counseling and support service, especially if you’re feeling anxious or depressed.
- Read our advice on how to manage the impacts of image-based abuse, including tips for taking care of your well-being.
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