Sextortion

WHAT IS IT?

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), sextortion is a form of child sexual exploitation where children are threatened or blackmailed, most often with the possibility of sharing with the public a nude or sexual images of them, by a person who demands additional sexual content, sexual activity or money from the child. This crime may happen when a child has shared an image with someone they thought they knew or trusted, but in many cases they are targeted by an individual they met online who obtained a sexual image from the child through deceit, coercion, or some other method. In many cases, the blackmailers may have stolen or taken images of another person and they are communicating through a fake account. The blackmailer may have sent images as well.

There has been a dramatic increase in sextortion cases being reported, especially financial sextortion where the offender demands money from the child. Teenage boys have been the most common targets in these recent cases.

ONLINE LINKS

Sextortion is a growing threat that exploits the misuse of personal images and sensitive information, often leaving lasting emotional and financial scars on victims. At 31:8 Project, we are dedicated to empowering communities by shedding light on this critical issue and offering practical strategies for prevention and recovery. If you're interested in scheduling a presentation on sextortion to help educate your community or organization, please contact 31:8 Project today.