NSW Police warn parents, teens after rise in ‘sextortion’ cases

Police have issued a warning over a cruel blackmail scheme targeting school kids across the state. Find out how it works and what to do if your child is at risk.

NSW Sex Crimes boss Jayne Doherty is deeply concerned about a sudden surge in “sextortion” among teenagers.

Teenagers across the state are being “sextorted” at a chilling rate by overseas crime syndicates who trick them into sending embarrassing pictures over social media then demand money in a cruel blackmail.

Senior police are seriously concerned at the statewide boom in reports - five people in the Campbelltown area alone came forward last week to report “sextortion” and several hundred families have spoken to police in the last three months.

Officers will go into schools in Term 1 and pamphlets are being urgently distributed by the education department to warn parents and children.

Similar scams in the US have led to a number of youth suicides and there has been at least one report of self harm in Australia.

“These crime groups, almost exclusively based overseas, create fake profiles normally of attractive young girls,” NSW Sex Crimes Squad commander Jayne Doherty said.

The telltail signs of a “sextortion” scam.

“They then begin chatting to young boys, normally 13 to 17. We are getting some in their early 20s but it’s predominantly teenagers.

“They start on one platform where they can see your friends and followers, where they get all the victim’s contacts from.

“Then the messages very quickly become of a sexual nature and flirtatious before asking to send a ‘dick pic’ or video of themselves doing things.”

Once the blackmailer has the image or video they threaten to send it to the victim’s contacts. They will even name a number of the contacts to convince the victim the blackmail is real.

Beginning with demands of around $200, the amounts can be as small as $50 – small enough for parents not to notice and for desperate teens to afford.

“You have these young kids who think they have done something wrong which in reality they haven’t, but they prey on the fear that they think they will get in trouble,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.

She said many victims mistakenly believed that because they were under age they had sent child pornography.

“We stress they are not going to be charged, they are victims and we don‘t judge,’’ Det Supt Doherty said.

The AFP and state police forces around the country have released instructions on what to do, and what not to do, if you are blackmailed.

She said families caught by the scam should not pay.

“Once you pay the money, we find they will keep coming at you for more. Go to your local police station and report it because you are not in trouble.”

She advised parents to stay calm and avoid confiscating their children’s devices or lap tops.

“The financial aspect is one part of the crime but the mental health effects on all concerned is a priority for us,’’ she said.

A recent FBI report into “sextortion” attributed 12 teen suicides in the US to similar scams, which were primarily run out of West African countries like Nigeria. The Australian Federal Police has confirmed at least one case of self harm has been reported here.

Young victims should come forward regardless of the scammers’ threats, police say.

NSW Cyber Crime boss Matt Craft there is help available for those who go to police early.

“We can help you take down the images and also if we are told early enough can often stop the money,” Detective Superintendent Craft said.

“They know what emotional buttons to push. It has a huge emotional toll and parents need to know about this then go and have conversations with their kids.”

The blackmailers receive the funds in a variety of ways including cryptocurrency, or even gift cards.

COPS SHUT DOWN 500 ACCOUNTS OF BLACKMAILERS

Federal agents have closed more than 500 bank accounts linked to the “sextortion” of unwitting children and are aware of one report of self harm linked to the scams.

Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling said: “We have seen a massive increase in young people being victims of this practice over Christmas and know of one case of self harm.”

“The AFP is working with police forces across the country to stamp out this practise which is not just financially distressing for those involved but emotionally as well,” she said.

Det-Supt Crossling said similar criminal techniques had been used to prey on children for sexual gratification.

“But now we are seeing these offshore crime networks using this practise to profit financially,” she said.

The AFP have shut down over 500 bank accounts linked to sextortion.

In June last year the AFP launched Operation Huntsman targeting Australian-based “sextortion” bank accounts, which were sending money from victims to accounts offshore.

They closed down more than 500 Australian bank accounts in six months and continue to work closely with AUSTRAC and the banking sector.

Huntsman detectives are currently working on getting the details of another 1000 Australian bank and financial services accounts believed to be facilitating the flow of money out of the country.

“We are smashing these syndicates where it hurts and that is financially,” Det-Supt Crossling said.

“There has been a massive increase in cases across the country recently and it can have severe mental consequences for the victims, there is one incident we believe may be linked to sextortion.

“The crime gangs, mainly from West Africa are incredibly manipulative.”

In December last year the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) said they had recorded an average of more than 100 reports of sextortion every month that year, which was a 100-fold increase from the previous year.

Police fear the true number of victims in Australia is much higher, with estimates indicating less than a quarter of minors report to police.

Originally published as NSW Police warn parents, teens after rise in ‘sextortion’ cases