Mexico City warns of new sextortion scheme targeting men online

The Citizens' Council for Security and Justice in Mexico City issued an alert about a new sextortion tactic that begins when men are contacted by fake profiles presenting themselves as young women. After exchanging intimate messages and images, a third party poses as the young woman's father and threatens to report the victim for child exploitation unless a payment is made. The council noted that 40% of such cases start on messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, while 38% begin on social networks, mainly Facebook, with additional incidents reported on dating apps and online games.

The council also reported that cyber‑harassment cases in the capital account for more than half of all reports in Mexico, with women and people under 30 being the most affected. From 2020 to mid‑2026, 28,204 reports were logged nationwide, 55% of which came from Mexico City. Seven out of ten victims are women, and 49% of reports involve individuals younger than 30. Common tactics include false identities (30%), threats of sharing personal information (28%), and impersonation (25%). Officials urge the public not to share intimate material with strangers, to keep profiles private, and to report any extortion attempts.