Sextortion scam advice for parents and carers

Merseyside Police Cyber Dependent Crime Unit

Advice for parents /carers

of children who are being sexually extorted or sextorted

CDCU Overview

• Prevent
• Protect
• Pursue

We work alongside partner agencies across the UK & abroad. These include Law enforcement and other agencies.

What we investigate

Dark Web We carry out investigations into the Dark web & Crypto

Hackers Viruses/ Trojans/ Stressor/booters/ Scripts

Social Media Takeovers Over 51% of Cyber incidents reported

what is sextortion? How to stop it?

In today’s digital age, young people are increasingly vulnerable to online threats, and one such menace is sextortion.Sextortion is a cyber-enabled crime that exploits a young person’s trust and seeks to control them through the threat of public humiliation.

what is sextortion? How to report and remove?

• Sextortion is a form of online exploitation where perpetrators, often using a false identity, manipulate and coerce young people into sharing intimate images or engaging in sexual acts on camera.

• After the explicit imagery is captured by the sexual predator, it is used to blackmail the young person into sending more images, money, or in some cases, into recruiting more victims.

+ info

How Does Sextortion Happen

Sextortion typically begins with an innocent online connection:

• a social media platform: WhatsApp, Snap, etc.

Innocent?

• a dating app...

• a gaming platform like Roblox

Or a digital trap?

• online friendship...

• shared interests...

As the conversation progresses-

unexpected turn towards sexual topics,

initiated by the other person.

your child may feel confused or even apprehensive

but not suspect any malicious intent.

Some young people may start to share explicit photos

or engage in intimate acts on camera...

unaware of the digital trap being set

Source: -safer school

How the perpetrator control your child step by step:

1 The perpetrator captures and saves the private moments, this gives the offender leverage to manipulate and control the young person.

2 They threaten to expose the explicit contentunless their demands for money, more images or victims are met.

The threat of exposure can seem extrmely real, when the perpetrator goes to the lengths of searching --through young person's social media platformsto find their close friends and family members' accounts

afraid

panic

embarrassed

violated

helpless

Recommended steps if your child has been a victim of sextortion or online blackmail

Do not delete the images, videos or message, for keeping evidence and stop them spreading further online.

Do not pay or engage further with the person asking for money.

Do not communicate with anyone who is potentially blackmailing, threatening or sexually extorting your child.

Do not blame your child.

YOU CAN DO-

Support your child without blaming them, reassure that your intention is not to punish them-taking away their device or internet access.

Contact the police, or report to CEOP. https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

Block and report the user.

Can get support and advice from NSPCC https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

Speak with designated safeguarding lead at your child’s school-if your child agrees. (School can keep an eye on the situation and help stop images or videos from being shared.)

Can use online tool “report and remove” to try to get the images, videos taken down.

'If you've already paid the ransom?

- visit Action Fraud for further advice

Action fraud

If you've been the victim of a scam, fraud or online crime (cybercrime) you can report it to Action Fraud: online. on 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm).

Speak to us, if you need support now.

Tips to your child-avoid falling victim to sextortion

• Ensure you have up-to-date internet security software loaded and switched on, to avoid the possibility of someone remotely controlling your webcam

• Don’t take your clothes off or perform intimate acts in front of your webcam

• Don’t respond to blackmail threats

• If a compromising photo or video appears on a website or social media site, report the images and ask for them to be removed

Check your email here...

You can use haveibeen pwned.com to check if your email address has been involved in a data breach.

Click here to read the story- man installed malware on victim's computers to spy on them through webcams

NSPCC offers advice for parents on how to keep their children safe from online and in-person abuse and a helpline if you're concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

IWF TALK checklist offers parents, carers and guardians advice on how to have useful conversations with your child. https://talk.iwf.org.uk/

Parents Protect provides advice and support to help parents and carers protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. https://www.parentsprotect.co.uk/ 0808 1000 900

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Did you know...

Did you know that 90% of the information we absorb comes through our sight? Visual resources are very helpful in reinforcing your message: images, illustrations, gifs, videos... Not only because they stick in your memory, but also because they are more engaging and easier to understand.