‘Sextortion’ Leads To Financial Losses And Psychological Trauma – What To Look Out For
When malicious internet users gain people’s trust to obtain sexually explicit photos or videos, and then use these materials – specifically the threat of sharing them – to coerce them for sexual, personal or financial gain, this is called “sextortion”.
Recent incidents of sextortion are not entirely surprising given the increase in social interactions online during lockdowns, particularly by way of online dating. But they are concerning. Being a victim of sextortion is associated with significant financial losses (sextortion cost Americans US$8 million over the first seven months of 2021, for example) as well as trauma.
Perpetrators of sextortion could be strangers who want to exploit vulnerable young children or adolescents. They could be former romantic partners or members of organised...