Sextortion Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Sextortion is a crime where an attacker threatens to distribute a victim's private, sexually explicit images or videos unless they meet demands for money, more images, or sexual favors, with the FBI receiving over 75,000 sextortion-related submissions in 2025.
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How It Works
1
Scammers make contact with a potential victim on social media, dating apps, or gaming platforms, often using a fake profile or posing as someone interested in a romantic relationship to build trust.
2
The scammer coaxes, tricks, or pressures the victim into sharing sexually explicit photos or videos of themselves. In some cases, scammers secretly record video chats or use AI to create fake explicit images (deepfakes) using content from the victim's social media profiles.
3
Once they have compromising material, the scammer's demeanor changes. They reveal the extortion plot, threatening to share the explicit content with the victim's family, friends, and colleagues, whose contact information they often gather from the victim's social media accounts.
4
The scammer demands payment, typically in cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards, to prevent the images from being leaked. Even if a victim pays, the demands often continue and escalate, and there is no guarantee the attacker will delete the material.
Red Flags
- An online contact pushes to develop a romantic or intimate relationship very quickly.
- They immediately ask to move the conversation from a public platform (like a dating app or social media) to a private, encrypted messaging app.
- They ask for explicit photos or videos, sometimes under the guise of reciprocation ("I'll show you mine if you show me yours").
- The person's social media profile is new, has few friends or posts, or uses images that appear to be stolen or overly professional.
- They refuse to participate in a live video call or their video seems pre-recorded or fake.
- They use urgent, threatening language and demand money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to keep your images private.
- The person claims to have access to your list of friends and family and threatens to send the explicit content to them.
What to Do If Targeted
- Do not pay the scammer or comply with demands for more images; this rarely stops the threats and can lead to further demands.
- Immediately stop all communication with the person and block them on all platforms.
- Do not delete any messages, profiles, or conversations. This evidence is crucial for law enforcement investigations.
- Report the user and the incident to the social media, gaming, or dating platform where the scam occurred.
- Tell a trusted friend, family member, or counselor. You are the victim of a crime and do not have to go through it alone.
- Secure your social media accounts by making them private and changing your passwords.
How to Report It
- FBI IC3 — File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for any cybercrime.
- Local FBI Field Office — Report the crime directly to your local FBI field office or submit an online tip.
- NCMEC — If the victim is under 18, report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission.
Key Statistics
- In 2024, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 54,936 complaints related to extortion, including sextortion, with reported losses totaling $33.5 million. — FBI IC3 2024 Report
- In 2025, the FBI received more than 75,000 submissions related to sextortion. — FBI IC3 2025 Report
- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion in 2023, a significant increase from 10,731 reports in 2022. — NCMEC 2024
- Between October 2021 and March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, involving at least 12,600 victims and leading to at least 20 suicides. — FBI 2024
- Reports of sextortion to the FTC have increased more than eightfold since 2019, with people aged 18-29 being over six times more likely to report it than people 30 and over. — FTC 2023
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Frequently Asked Questions
Financial sextortion is when a perpetrator coerces a victim into sending sexually explicit images and then threatens to release them unless the victim provides payment. The FBI reports that this form of sextortion is increasingly common, with offenders demanding money via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These schemes have resulted in millions of dollars in losses and have tragically led to victim suicides.
No, sextortion affects people of all ages. While there is a significant focus on protecting minors, who are particularly vulnerable, adults are frequently targeted as well. FBI data from 2021 showed that nearly half of all sextortion victims were in the 20-39 age group, and victims over 60 comprised the third-largest reporting group.
No, law enforcement agencies strongly advise against paying sextortionists. Paying the ransom does not guarantee the images will be deleted and often leads to increased demands for more money. It can also signal to the criminal that you are a compliant victim, leading to further harassment.
If your images have been shared online, you can take steps to have them removed. Services like NCMEC's Take It Down (for victims under 18) and StopNCII.org (for adults) can help prevent the images from spreading on participating tech platforms. You should also report the incident to law enforcement immediately.
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