Victims of sextortion... aged 10 to 85

Warning over online dangers as ‘devastating’ crime surges 44pc

CHILDREN as young as ten are being targeted in ‘sextortion’ crimes as cases soar.

Data released yesterday by Police Scotland showed there has been a significant increase in online blackmail cases during the pandemic – with the oldest victim being 85.

Between January and August last year, 283 crimes were recorded – an increase of 44 per cent on the same period in 2019, when 196 such offences were reported.

Sextortion involves the threat of sharing the victim’s sexual information, images or video clips to extort money from them – whether or not the material actually exists.

Footage or images obtained through webcam recording or provided by the

‘Victims can have their lives ruined’

victims themselves were used in 236 of reported incidents.

In two-thirds of cases, money was demanded to avoid disclosure of sexual images or footage they had unwittingly provided to criminals. The majority of victims, 64 per cent, were aged 25 and under.

Assistant Chief Constable Pat Campbell said: ‘Becoming a victim of extortion is devastating, particularly if the extortion involves the threat of sexual exposure.

‘Social media has become the default for communicating and meeting people during lockdown, for both adults and children. Criminals are targeting people online and tapping into vulnerabilities.’

He said a ‘particularly worrying trend’ was that police were now seeing ‘increasing numbers of children being targeted and threatened in this way’.

Mr Campbell added: ‘We want people to be aware of the risks and stay safe online.

‘If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sextortion please contact the police. Every report will be treated seriously, sensitively and you will be treated with respect.’

Among ten to 15-year-olds, most extortion demands were for further images or videos. However, a number included webcam extortions for money or threats of violence.

In the other age brackets, money was the main reason. Around 60 per cent of victims were male. About half of female victims were ten to 17 years old, with just over half of male victims 13 to 23 years old.

Girls under 18 were most vulnerable to being targeted for images. young men in their late teens/early twenties were the most vulnerable to being targeted for money.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘The rise in reports of this sickening crime will give parents sleepless nights with so many young people targeted.

‘Victims of sextortion can have their lives ruined and we need to do all we can to stop it, including severe penalties for the monsters responsible.

‘It is vital that we educate more about the dangers of sharing certain images over the internet.

‘Many are unaware of the hazards that can come of it, especially those of school-age.’

He said that social media companies ‘need to start taking responsibility for horrific crimes like these, instead of passing the buck, as they have done far too often’.

‘Dangers of sharing images’