Lauren Taylor : “Teen Boys Targeted by Sextortion Scams”

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Financial Extortion Scams on the Rise, Targeting Teen Boys

Recent data from anti-child sexual abuse technology company Thorn has revealed a disturbing trend in the online world – the increase of financial “sextortion” scams, with teenage boys being the primary victims. Thorn analyzed over 15 million reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) between 2020 and 2023, highlighting the growing prevalence of sextortion, particularly in the form of financial blackmail.

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The Rise of Sextortion

The FBI defines sextortion as the act of coercing someone into sending sexually explicit images online. Financial sextortion takes this one step further by using these images as leverage for blackmail, demanding money in exchange for not releasing the compromising content.

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Reports of sextortion have skyrocketed since 2022, with more than 600 cases reported weekly. Interestingly, while previous sextortion schemes often targeted girls, the latest data shows that teen boys, especially those aged 14 to 17, are now the most common victims of financial sextortion, accounting for 90% of reports to NCMEC.

The Modus Operandi

According to the study, the majority of child sextortion cases begin with “catfishing,” where perpetrators pose as teenagers to solicit sexually explicit images or videos from unsuspecting victims. The perpetrators then threaten to expose these images to the victim’s friends and family unless a ransom is paid.

Instagram emerged as the most frequently used platform for financial sextortion, mentioned in over 80% of threats and utilized in more than half of the cases to follow through on the demands. Perpetrators often initiate contact with victims through Instagram, but there is a growing trend of using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram for communication.

Protective Measures

In response to these alarming findings, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has acknowledged the severity of financial sextortion and is taking steps to enhance user safety. The company is currently testing features that would blur nudity in direct messages and developing technology to identify accounts potentially engaging in sextortion scams.

Gift cards and CashApp were identified as the most common payment methods in these scams, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and awareness among teens and their parents. Meta reassures users that they are committed to combating this “horrific crime” and are actively working on improving security measures on their platforms.