Sextortion

Sextortion involves threatening to release intimate images or recordings of the victim unless demands are met — typically money or more intimate material. There are several distinct types:

In 'webcam sextortion', a fraudster builds a relationship online, persuades the victim to appear naked on video (which is recorded without consent), then immediately demands payment to suppress the footage. In 'hacking sextortion', mass-sent emails falsely claim the sender has secretly recorded the victim through their webcam and demands Bitcoin payment — in reality, no footage exists.

With deepfake technology, attackers now create non-consensual intimate imagery from ordinary social media photos, creating a new variant that victimises people who never sent or created any intimate images. Sextortion causes severe psychological harm. Victims should contact police, not pay, and report to platforms immediately.