From DMs to Demands: How Extortionists Use Social Media to Target Victims

Social media networks have transformed the way we communicate in the digital era of today. These platforms bring together people from all around the world, making it easier and faster to exchange information, files, and other data. However, this connectivity is a double-edged sword that also creates new opportunities for cybercriminals and all sorts of wrongdoers. 

Disgraceful individuals often refer to social media sextortion as a means to an end: shaming victims, controlling their lives, and coercing them to meet their malicious demands. This troubling scam scheme is becoming widely adopted by organized online crime groups, so it would be recommended to learn how you can safeguard your privacy on the Internet.

What Is Social Media Sextortion?

Sextortion on social media is a kind of sexual abuse that involves a victim being forced to share explicit and intimate content with the online blackmailer. These cybercriminals often threaten their victims by revealing such images or videos if their demands are not met. Quite often, they require more uncensored materials but also want monetary payment, usually using anonymous cryptocurrency wallets.

Studies on sextortion show that these cybercriminals tend to be repeat offenders, who target multiple victims simultaneously. One of the ways they can get to their potential targets is through social media networks. There, extortionists use the following tactics:

• Impersonation: Predators can create fake social media profiles imitating peers or faking romantic interests to build their victim’s confidence and sympathy.
• Manipulation: As they gain their target’s trust, extortionists persuade them to disclose explicit photos or videos, or engage in compromising acts.
• Threats: As soon as they obtain intimate content, offenders send threats to share this material with family, friends, or the public, unless specific demands are met.
• Financial Demands: The final act of social media sextortion is demanding money, but it can also be additional uncensored content or other favors.

The problem with sextortion on social media is, that it usually does not end with monetary satisfaction. Any victim of blackmail can be continuously threatened and coerced to send more private stuff or next payments. That is why social media users should take precautions whenever engaging in new conversations with strangers.

Sextortion Statistics

Even if you might think that you are safe from scammers and cybercriminals, the rise of sextortion on social media is an alarming issue. Reports from all around the world indicate a significant increase in the number of blackmail victims:

• United States: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion in 2023 alone, up from 10,731 reports in 2022.
• United Kingdom: According to The Revenge Porn Helpline analysis, 85% of sextortion victims in the UK were males, while 64% of their respondents were aged between 18-34. Furthermore, 54% of victims are unsure if their intimate material has been released to the public.
• Global Perspective: Studies carried out across 10 countries revealed, that approximately 15% of adults have already experienced sextortion online. 

Noteworthy Sextortion Case Studies

To further investigate the potential dangers of sextortion, let us discuss two of the most notable case studies of the recent years:

• The Tragedy of Jordan DeMay: In March 2022, Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old football player from Michigan, fell victim to Nigerian cybercriminals who posed as a female on Instagram. Brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi (who in the end were sentenced to serve 17½ years in prison) forced him to share private photos and then extorted him for money. Dazed and confused by these circumstances, Jordan tragically took his own life. This incident highlights the horrific effects of sextortion and resulted in the extradition and punishment of the offenders in the United States.
• The Amanda Todd Incident: Amanda Todd was just 15 years old when she fell prey to online blackmail and sextortion. This Canadian teenage girl was forced to reveal herself on a webcam by an individual, who then manipulated her images to share them via Facebook. They used this material to harass the girl ruthlessly, which led Amanda to her tragic suicide in 2012. A 35-year-old Dutch citizen named Aydin Coban, who held dual Dutch and Turkish citizenship, was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in this and 71 other cases of sexual assault and extortion in the Netherlands.

These two infamous cases underline the seriousness of sextortion and blackmail on the Internet. Anyone can be targeted and victimized, plus cybercriminals operate internationally. There are no boundaries on the web, so it gets easier for cybercriminals to remotely access their prey. With that in mind, everyone should focus on prevention and response strategies to stay safe whenever using social media networks.

Social Media Sextortion: Prevention and Response Tactics

Sextortion prevention is the key element of staying safe while on the Internet, especially when using social media, which is often vulnerable to cybercriminal attacks. Addressing these issues requires a very specific and comprehensive approach, which follows these tactics:

• Knowledge and Consciousness: Raising awareness about what sextortion is and how to avoid it should be the first step toward the development of secure online practices.
• Parental Guidance: Transparent communication between parents and their children on staying safe using social media leads to more adequate safeguarding online.
• Social Media Liability: Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat should adopt robust security protocols and offer up-front ways for users to report issues.
• Law Enforcement Drill: Equipping authorities with the essential know-how and tools to take legal action against extortionists allows them to precisely act when needed.

Implementing these strategies in real life ought to become the key element of a global fight against online blackmail.

How to React When Facing Social Media Sextortion?

If you realize that you are being targeted by a sextortionist, follow these tips to respond to the situation:

1. Do Not Answer: Cease all communication with the wrongdoer, immediately stopping interaction on any level.
2. Gather Evidence: Take screenshots of all messages, images, and other content related to your communication with the perpetrator.
3. Use In-App Reporting Tools: Most social media networks and apps have built-in tools to report inappropriate messages and accounts.
4. Seek Professional Help: Contact an expert digital forensics company that will guide you through the process of reporting and stopping sextortion on social media.
5. Report to Authorities: Learn how and where you can share all the gathered proof with your local law enforcement to try persecuting the predator.

Whatever happens, stay calm. Do not let emotions rule your judgment. And remember that you are never alone—there are professionals ready to assist you along the way.

Avoid Sextortion on Social Media

There is a widespread misuse of social media for sextortion and blackmail. This increasing problem carries significant consequences. Thus, when using social networks, it is essential to remember the tactics used by cybercriminals, identify the common red flags, and establish protective strategies. These are the three pillars of staying safe and avoiding potential extortion schemes on the Internet.