Romance Blackmail Scams in Chile
Sextortion and romance blackmail schemes target Chilean men and women via Instagram and Tinder, threatening to share intimate images with family contacts unless payment is made.
Part of: Romance Blackmail Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Romance blackmail — often called 'sextortion' — has become one of the fastest-growing online fraud types reported to Chilean authorities. Perpetrators create fake profiles on dating apps, Instagram, and Grindr, build a brief romantic rapport, then persuade the victim to share intimate images or participate in a video call.
After obtaining the material, the scammer threatens to distribute it to the victim's WhatsApp contacts, employer, or family unless a payment — typically CLP 100,000–500,000 — is made. The psychological pressure is intense, and many victims pay multiple times before reporting.
How this scam works on Chile
A scammer using AI-generated or stolen profile photos initiates contact on Instagram, claiming to be a foreign professional or Chilean living abroad. After a few days of flirtatious messaging, they suggest moving to a private video call or exchanging intimate photos. Screenshots or recordings are made without the victim's knowledge.
The threat arrives immediately afterwards, often with a screenshot of the victim's contact list to demonstrate access. Payment is demanded via Mercado Pago, WebPay, or crypto. If the victim pays, demands escalate rather than stop. Some scammers work in coordinated groups, with one playing the romantic interest and another playing an 'investigator' or 'lawyer' threatening legal action.
Adolescents are also targeted, and scammers sometimes pose as age-matched peers on Chilean gaming platforms such as Discord communities.
Common red flags
- Online contact quickly escalates to requests for intimate photos or video
- Profile appears too perfect — stock-photo quality images and vague backstory
- Contact made from an account created very recently with few followers
- After images are shared, tone immediately changes to threats and payment demands
- Payment requested via Mercado Pago or crypto to preserve anonymity
- Scammer claims to have already sent images to some contacts as 'proof'
How to protect yourself
- Never share intimate images or video with someone you have not met in person
- Reverse image-search profile photos to check for stolen identities
- If threatened, do not pay — payment almost never stops the harassment
- Block and report the account on every platform immediately
- Preserve all evidence (screenshots, usernames) before blocking
- Seek support from Chile's Centro de Atención a Víctimas del Ciberacoso
How to report it
- Report to the PDI BRICIB at pdichile.cl — they handle sextortion cases and can act quickly
- File a report with the Ministerio Público for coerción and extorsión
- Report the account to the platform (Instagram, Tinder) using the in-app abuse reporting tools
Frequently asked questions
Will the scammer really send the images if I do not pay?
Many scammers do not follow through, particularly if you block them promptly, as doing so removes the leverage. However, some do. Either way, paying rarely ends the extortion — it signals you will pay again.