Ten-year-old becomes 'sextortion' victim as cases soar

‘Sextortion’ reports have increased significantly in Scotland – with the youngest victim aged just ten.

Police said 283 such crimes were recorded between January and August 2020, an increase of 44% on the same period in 2019, when 196 offences were reported.

Sextortion involves threatening to share sexual information, images or videos to extort money from people, whether the material actually exist or not.

Footage or images obtained through webcam recordings or from footage or images provided by the victim were used as leverage in 236 (83%) of reported incidents.

Two-thirds of the extortions demanded money from the victim to avoid disclosure of sexual images or footage they had unwittingly provided to criminals.

‘It is a particularly worrying trend that we are now seeing increasing numbers of children being targeted and threatened in this way.’
Assistant chief constable Pat Campbell

Sextortion victims across Scotland were aged between ten and 85 years old, with the majority (64%) aged 25 and under.

Assistant chief constable Pat Campbell said: “Becoming a victim of extortion is devastating particularly if the extortion involves the threat of sexual exposure.

“Social media has become the default for communicating and meeting people during lockdown, for both adults and children. Criminals are targeting people online and tapping into vulnerabilities.

“It is distressing to realise that actions you thought were private are now a source of threat. It is a particularly worrying trend that we are now seeing increasing numbers of children being targeted and threatened in this way.

“Criminals don’t care about the hurt or damage they cause, they only care about money. And once they identify a victim it is likely their demands will continue.

‘Criminals don’t care about the hurt or damage they cause, they only care about money. And once they identify a victim it is likely their demands will continue.’
Assistant chief constable Pat Campbell

“We can’t underestimate how important online apps and platforms have been for people during lockdown but sometimes the people you meet online are not who they say they are.

“We want people to be aware of the risks and stay safe online.

“If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sextortion please contact the police. Every report will be treated seriously, sensitively and you will be treated with respect.”

Among children, aged between ten and 15 years, most extortion demands were for further images or videos. However, a number included webcam extortions for money or threats of violence. In the other age brackets, money was the main reason for targeting victims.

Most victims were male (60%). Around half of female victims were aged ten to 17, with just over half of male victims aged between 13 and 23 years.

Girls and young women aged under 18 were most vulnerable to being targeted for images.

Young men in their late teens to early twenties were the most vulnerable to being targeted for money.

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “We would ask people to consider what they share and who they share it with.

“They should, ideally, only share pictures online that they are happy with their friends, family and others seeing.

“Switching communication from one platform to another is a tactic used during these scams to gain as much information about a victim as possible.

“We would ask parents of children who are gaming and streaming online to check the security settings on these platforms to try and prevent any offenders contacting them.

“For children, if there is anyone asking you to do something that you believe to be wrong online, please let your parents, guardians or teachers know, or contact police on 101.

“We will support you and your report will be taken in the utmost confidence.”