What is ‘Sextortion’? 

Sextortion is a type of blackmail where someone threatens to share sexual or nude photos or videos of a victim unless they meet certain demands, like paying money or providing more compromising content. Often, these images or recordings are obtained without the victim’s knowledge or consent. In some cases, the perpetrator may even lie about having such materials to scare the victim into compliance. 

The threat of sextortion is growing rapidly. According to the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reported cases jumped from 10,731 in 2022 to 26,718 in 2023. This rise prompted the UK’s National Crime Agency to issue an urgent warning in April 2024. 

Who is at Risk? 

Sextortion can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. However, young males aged 14-18 are particularly vulnerable. In 2023, the Internet Watch Foundation reported that 91% of UK victims in sextortion cases were male. 

How to Stay Safe 

To protect yourself from sextortion, be cautious about sharing personal or intimate content online. Educate yourself and others, especially teenagers, about the risks of online interactions. If you or someone you know becomes a victim, report it to the authorities immediately. 

Sources of Help and Support 

Gwent Police’s website offers detailed information and advice about sextortion, stressing that they are available “to listen and support in any way we can.” 

You can report intimate image abuse to Gwent Police: 

• online 

• by calling 101 

• if you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101 

If you are under 18, you can report sextortion, or any other form of online child sexual abuse, to the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Safety Centre 

Useful links 

Adults: 

• Revenge Porn Online gives free, confidential help to victims living in the UK. 
• Stop NCII (Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse) is a free tool to help detect and remove images from being shared online. 
• Samaritans is a free, confidential listening service for any issue. 
• Get safe online provides factual and easy to understand information on online safety. 

Children and young people: 

• Report Remove allows you to confidentially report sexual images and videos of yourself and get them removed from the internet. 
• Childline gives free, confidential support for young people under the age of 19. 
• Young Minds is a mental health charity for children and young people with 24 hours a day, seven days a week text support. 
• Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) Education gives advice for parents, children, and young people on staying safe from sexual abuse and online grooming. 

Other help: 

• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) can help if you’ve been the victim of phishing or hacking, or need advice on protecting your data online. 
• Action Fraud – Romance Fraud can help if you think a partner you met online is trying to get money from you but isn’t threatening or extorting you. This is known as ‘romance fraud’.