Sextortion: What It Is and How to Stay Safe
Sextortion: What It Is and How to Stay Safe
Sextortion is a growing online crime that targets youth through social media, messaging apps and gaming platforms. It can happen quickly and often begins with what seems like a normal online conversation.
Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to share sexual images, videos or private messages of a person unless they are given something in return. This is usually money, more images, or other demands.
In many cases, the offender pretends to be another youth online and builds trust before asking for a photo or video. Once they have the image, they threaten to send it to friends, family or post it publicly unless the victim pays or sends more content.
This crime can happen to anyone, but youth are particularly targeted.
Who Is Being Targeted
While sextortion can impact anyone, police investigations have identified common patterns:
Boys and young men
- Often targeted for financial gain.
- Offenders quickly request an explicit image and then demand money (sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars).
- Payments are usually requested through gift cards, cryptocurrency or money transfer apps.
Girls and young women
- More often targeted for additional sexual images or videos.
- Offenders may manipulate or pressure victims into sending increasingly explicit content.
In both cases, the offender may threaten to send the images to classmates, family members or post them online.
Warning Signs of Sextortion
Youth should be cautious if someone online:
- Quickly asks to move a conversation to private messaging apps.
- Sends or requests sexual images or videos early in a conversation.
- Claims their camera is broken or refuses to appear on video.
- Becomes aggressive, threatening or demanding money after receiving an image.
- Threatens to send images to followers, friends or family.
Prevention Tips for Youth
- Never send intimate photos or videos online, even to someone you trust.
- Be cautious about accepting friend requests from people you don’t know.
- Keep social media accounts private and limit who can see your posts.
- Avoid sharing personal details like your school, address or phone number.
- If someone pressures you for images, stop communicating immediately.
- Do not pay money or send additional images if someone threatens you.
Remember: If this happens to you, you are not in trouble and you are not alone.
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- Talk regularly with your child about online relationships and digital safety.
- Explain that people online may pretend to be someone they are not.
- Encourage your child to come to you right away if something feels wrong.
- Keep an open and supportive environment so youth do not feel ashamed or afraid to speak up.
- Learn what apps and platforms your child is using.
- Remind youth that once an image is shared online, control over it can be lost.
What To Do If Sextortion Happens
If someone is threatening you or your child online:
- Stop communicating with the person immediately.
- Do not send money or additional images.
- Take screenshots of messages, usernames and profiles.
- Report the account on the platform where the interaction occurred.
- Tell a trusted adult or parent right away.
When to Contact Police
You should contact police if:
- Someone is threatening to distribute sexual images.
- There are demands for money or more images.
- A youth has already shared images and is being blackmailed or harassed.
- The offender continues to contact or threaten the victim.
Sextortion is a serious crime and police take these cases very seriously. Reporting the incident can help protect the victim and prevent others from being targeted.
Resources and Support:
Resources and Support:
If you or your child are experiencing sextortion, these organizations can help:
Cybertip.ca
Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children. They provide support, reporting options and guidance for families.
NeedHelpNow.ca
Provides step-by-step tools and support for youth dealing with the sharing of sexual images. The site also explains how to reduce the spread of images and get help quickly.
Canadian Centre for Child Protection
A national organization that runs Cybertip and provides education, victim support and resources for families.
Take It Down
A free online tool that helps prevent intimate images of people under 18 from being shared or redistributed online. The service works with major social media platforms to detect and remove the images.
Remember
Sextortion offenders rely on fear, shame and secrecy to control victims.
If this happens, the most important thing to remember is:
Help is available, and reporting it is the first step toward stopping it.
More Crime Prevention Resources
Stay one step ahead: check out more tools, tips, and crime‑prevention resources.
