This is Sextortion
Your digital footprint can be permanent. Share safely and know that help is available if you need it.
Sexual extortion, also known as sextortion, is a form of online blackmail where someone tricks or coerces you into sending sexual images of yourself and then threatens to share the images unless you comply with their demands. Usually, these demands are for more images, payment or sexual favours.
What to do?
If you are a victim, do not blame yourself. Seek the help of special investigators in Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
Do stop the chat
Take screenshots of text and profile
Block the account and report to the platform
Report to ACCCE.
What not to do?
Do not send more images
Do not pay the ransom
Do not respond to demands
Do not communicate
How to avoid?
When talking to new people online be wary of:
unsolicited friend or follow requests or random adds from people you don’t know
sudden sexualised questions or conversation
instantly receiving sexual images from a fake profile who asks for the same from you
getting a direct message on one app, then being asked to continue chatting on a different app
signs that English may be a second language
the fake profile might say that their webcam and/or microphone are not working
the fake promises to delete your content.
Support for parents and carers
Schools can advise and direct parents with the Protecting children from sexual abuse online resources from the eSafety Commissioner
