A new campaign in Cumbria aims to protect young people from blackmail involving intimate images or videos.
Fearless, the youth service of charity Crimestoppers, is warning young people about sextortion, also known as financially motivated sexual extortion.
One of the fastest-rising online crimes, criminals involved typically target people through social media, dating apps, live-streaming platforms, or pornography sites. They often use fake identities to build trust with victims before coercing them into sharing intimate material, which is then used to blackmail them.
Unlike so-called revenge porn, sextortion is motivated purely by financial gain. While some criminals act alone, some are organised crime gangs, running co-ordinated sextortion scams, sometimes from large call centres abroad.
The Fearless campaign is targeting young people aged 13 to 21 living in Cumbria and urges them to be alert to the risks and advises them on steps to protect themselves online:
- Don’t panic. Don’t pay. Get help. Report it.
- Check social media privacy settings regularly.
- End online conversations that make you feel uncomfortable.
- Report concerns to the police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency).
Gary Murray, regional manager for Crimestoppers in North West England, said: “Sadly we are aware that there is an increasing number of young people who are becoming victims of sextortion scams.
“This type of exploitation can cause enormous distress, fear and shame – and in extreme cases, has tragically led to lives being lost.
“Our message is clear: if you are targeted, don’t give in to the blackmail. Support is available, and most importantly, you are not alone. If you’ve been tricked, threatened or pressured in a sextortion case, you will not face charges or blame. This is not your fault – you are a victim.
“And for adults, please rest assured, there’s plenty of advice and support available to help parents and guardians to be prepared should they ever face this problem in the future.”
Given the intimate nature of the photos, underreporting of the crime is thought to be high, Crimestoppers added.
It is essential that young people are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult, report to police directly or contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via their website childline.org.uk
