Global rise in sextortion cybercrime

Law enforcement agencies in the United States and Finland have issued warnings regarding a rise in sextortion scams targeting both adults and minors via social media and messaging platforms.

In the United States, the FBI reported that cybercriminals are using social engineering, brute-force attacks, and phishing to steal intimate media for the purposes of harassment, stalking, and extortion. Experts have highlighted the significant psychological risks to young victims and noted a rise in child identity theft.

In Eastern Finland, police reported over ten cases during the summer and autumn. Criminals in this region reportedly use friendly social media interactions to lure victims into sexually explicit video calls or to solicit nude images, which are then recorded without consent. Perpetrators demand payment through cryptocurrency or gift cards, threatening to distribute the content to the victim’s contacts. Authorities also noted the emergence of artificial intelligence being used to manipulate images to add nudity or sensitive content to existing photos.