‘Cunning and deplorable’ scam tricking Victorian kids

Aussie teenagers are being targeted in a “cunning and manipulative” scam organised by overseas criminal syndicates.

Concerning trends of male teens as young as 14 being coerced into producing explicit images online have emerged from a “marked increase” in reports of online child sextortion, according to Victoria Police.

Offshore criminal syndicates are employing local “middle men” to help find vulnerable children to prey upon, anti-child-exploitation detectives believe.

The offenders usually catfish their male victims by creating fake identities online, pretending to be girls of a similar age.

They send what they claim are intimate images of themselves to the intended victims to build trust, coercing their victims into sending sexualised personal images back.

The offenders then threaten to share the images and make demands for money or cryptocurrency.

The offenders usually catfish their male victims by creating fake identities online.

“Police were investigating more than 100 reports of this offending, with the belief hundreds more may have fallen victim,” Detective Acting Inspector Carla McIntyre said.

“This is highly manipulative, cunning and deplorable.

“They are tricking kids with no regard to how this will impact the life of the child on the end of the device. The impact can be traumatic and really harmful.”

Inspector McIntyre said the anti-child-exploitation team was working closely with Australian Federal Police to bring those responsible to justice.

“Police are aware there are Victorians that may be working as facilitators,” she said.

“We encourage people to explain their circumstances to police if involved.

“We will target the middle men and continue to disrupt the offending.”

Inspector McIntyre also urged parents to “have a brave conversation” with their children, letting them “know how it happens, that is frequently happening to children in Victoria and that it is not their fault”.

“The psychological anguish this type of offending can have can be really significant. There is absolutely nothing to feel embarrassed about,” she said.

“Please know that you are not alone as it is happening to other people. Police can and will help you.

“It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant you may think it is – something that may appear small could later prove vital in an investigation.”