Protecting young people from the emerging threat of online sextortion

From left: Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson, Crimestoppers Director of Operations Mick Duthie, Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, Fearless Scotland Manager at Crimestoppers Lyndsay McDade and Fearless volunteer Ruby, pictured at the campaign launch in Glasgow
We have launched a powerful new campaign across Scotland to help protect young people from harmful sextortion. 

The initiative is funded and supported by Scottish Government and Police Scotland and has been developed and is being run by Fearless our charity’s youth service.

Sextortion is a developing threat and a relatively new form of online blackmail. 

It’s where criminals threaten to share nude or semi-nude photographs of their victim (often to the victim’s personal contacts on social media) if money isn’t paid or if the victim fails to comply with some other harmful demand. The image may be a real photo taken by the victim or a fake image that the criminal has created to pursue blackmail.

The campaign comes after the number of global sextortion cases reported to the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) more than doubled in 2023, rising to almost 27,000 compared to almost 11,000 the year before.

The Fearless campaign will target young people of all genders aged 13 – 21 living in Scotland, but a large proportion of cases have involved male victims aged between 14-18. Ninety-one per cent of victims in UK sextortion cases dealt with by the Internet Watch Foundation in 2023 were male.

 
Don’t panic, don’t pay or comply and get help. 

This campaign has been designed to reach young people through TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram and emphasises that absolutely any young person can be affected. They’re encouraged to know that if this happens to them, it’s not their fault, they are not alone, and that help is there for them. 

Whilst the criminals behind this can operate alone, often overseas serious organised crime gangs are behind the operation. There’s evidence that, at worst, entire Contact Centres are being run abroad with the aim of profiteering from this crime. 

A second strand of the campaign is offering advice to adults who work with and look after young people. Its aim is to increase their own awareness of this crime whilst reassuring them that help is available should this happen to a young person they know. 

Sextortion can have a devastating impact on victims and, in rare occasions, it has led to young people taking their own life, as in the tragic case of 16 year old Murray Dowey who died last year in Dunblane. Murray’s parents have worked with Fearless to develop the campaign, keen to ensure that no other parent experiences what they have.

Given the intimate nature of the photos, underreporting of the crime is thought to be high. It’s essential that young people are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult, report to Police directly or contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via their website childline.org.uk 

“We know that sextortion can have a massive and devastating impact on the victim, especially if they feel unable to get help because of embarrassment or fear of being judged or getting into trouble.

“Whilst developing the campaign, I worked with a number of youth groups across the country to find out what young people’s understanding of sextortion was, what gaps we could fill and, importantly, what they would most likely engage with on social media.

“Fear of getting into trouble was a big concern for young people, so to be clear – if this has happened to you, it is not your fault – you are a victim. You won’t face any blame, people just want to help you. Please talk to an adult, go to the Police directly or contact Childline.

“And for adults, as a mum of teenagers myself, I know how difficult this topic can seem. Please visit our website fearless.org to learn more and consider talking to your young person about this. More than anything, they need to know that they can come to you should this ever happen to them and that they will be supported to get through it.”
 
Fearless Scotland Manager at Crimestoppers, Lyndsay McDade

“I am pleased that the Scottish Government is jointly funding this important Fearless campaign with Police Scotland which will highlight the growing incidence of sextortion involving our young people.

“Sextortion has a devastating impact on young people and their families, and I know this can be a difficult topic to discuss, or that families are unaware it even goes on. 

“I want to reassure young people that this is never your fault, please never panic or pay, but instead get help by speaking with a trusted adult or support service, and report sextortion to the police. Remember, you will come through this and will be supported to do so.”
 
Victims and Community Safety Minister for Scotland, Siobhian Brown
 

"Sextortion is an insidious, despicable crime and is a form of blackmail. I would urge anyone who is targeted not to pay, nor should they be embarrassed or scared to report it to police or someone else, such as a parent, friend or a teacher.

“The Fearless campaign, which we welcome and support wholeheartedly, will help raise awareness of these offences with those most likely to be targeted and hopefully re-assure them that support is available from policing and partner agencies.

“We know it is likely that sextortion is still an under-reported offence, and anyone targeted is a victim. They shouldn’t panic as they have done nothing wrong and will be treated in confidence with respect and dignity and the circumstances fully investigated sensitively and professionally.”
 

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable, Steve Johnson

 If you are a young person find out more information.
 

 If you are an adult who looks after or works with young people more information can be accessed on this page. 

18 November 2024