Scams: Sextortion: Blackmail through intimate pictures and videos

Internet crime has increased in recent years. Scammers use various methods to try to cheat victims out of their money. Prevention is important, which is why MeinBezirk.at is now educating people about sexual blackmail.

STYRIA. Various fraud schemes are constantly in circulation. These hardly differ from city to country. MeinBezirk.at regularly presents the schemes of the criminal groups. This time, sexual blackmail This is called “sextortion.” “Knowledge and education about the criminal acts can protect you,” explains the Police crime prevention expert, Romana Revoul. “If you have become a victim of this method, you should inform the police.”

Sexual blackmail (sextortion)

The victims receive a friend request or invitation from an unknown attractive person via social networks, dating platforms or apps and are then Video chat motivated to intimate to show, whereby the perpetrators secretly film the events and save the images in order to force the victims to publish them or pass them on to friends, family or employers. blackmail.

However, transferring the requested amount does not guarantee that the perpetrators will refrain from publishing the image or video material. It often happens that those affected comply with the request and the material is still posted online or further transfers are requested.

What should you do if you are a victim of sextortion?

• Under no circumstances should you agree to the request.
• If image or video material has been published, you can contact the operators of the platform.
• You can set up a Google alert with your name. This will inform you about new photos and videos of yourself that are uploaded to the Internet.
• Secure the evidence, including pictures and videos used to blackmail the man and all messages.
• Replace a report to the police.

Other scams at a glance:

Beware of the “daughter-son trick”

When love quickly makes you blind

Spying on personal data through “phishing”

There is no quick money behind the investment fraud