Sextortion
Sextortion refers to a specific type of cyber-enabled crime in which victims are lured into performing sexual acts in front of their webcam.
Unbeknown to victims, their actions are recorded by criminals who then use the video footage in an attempt to blackmail them.
Generally criminals request money and if demands are not met, these offenders threaten to upload the recording(s) to the internet and send to the victims’ friends and family.
If you fall victim to sextortion, first and foremost:
✔️ Don't panic
✔️ Know that police will take your case seriously
✔️ Be assured that we will not make judgements
✔️ Be assured that the matter will be dealt with in absolute confidence
❌ Do not delete any correspondence
❌ Do not pay
❌ Do not communicate further with the offenders
✔️ Deactivate your accounts
✔️ Report online indecent images to the host website
✔️ Contact us immediately so that we can help:
📲 Send us a private message on Facebook / Twitter
📧 Email [email protected]
📞 101
In an emergency, always dial 999.
Further advice and self-help
For further advice on how to get indecent images removed from specific sites, and what information could assist a police investigation, please read this sextortion self-help guide.
Further advice is also available from the National Crime Agency (NCA), and Action Fraud.