Sextortion scams surge globally as AI tools empower extortionists

Reports from investigators and safety agencies show a sharp rise in sextortion, a form of image‑based abuse that coerces victims with threats to share intimate material. A recent study of over 16,000 respondents in ten countries found that 14.5% of adults have experienced sextortion, and 4.8% admit to perpetrating it. The Australian eSafety Commissioner reported more than 3,300 sextortion complaints in 2025, 86% from men and 42% from those aged 18‑24, with most cases demanding money.

The surge is being driven by artificial‑intelligence tools that can remove clothing from photos, create deep‑fake videos, and generate convincing chat messages at scale. Campaigns now use AI‑generated videos of attractive women to lure men, while offenders employ “nudify” software and AI‑enhanced cameras to record victims covertly. Private‑investigator Brad Nathanson in South Africa notes victims losing from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of rand, and teenagers being trapped through social‑media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and Telegram.

Authorities warn that sextortion is not limited to strangers; former or current intimate partners often act as perpetrators, using fabricated or real images to maintain control. The growing use of AI is making the scams harder to detect and more widespread, prompting new public‑awareness campaigns and calls for stronger online‑safety measures.