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How Organised Crime is Targeting Teenage Boys—and What Needs to Change
We have previously reported on sextortion cases in the news, and raising awareness of the risks has long been a part of OSA training, but incidents of this alarming crime are quickly rising in the UK and around the world. This form of blackmail sees victims—predominantly teenage boys—tricked into sharing explicit images, then coerced into paying money under the threat of exposure.
Recent reports reveal a staggering rise in cases worldwide, with organised crime groups in West Africa and the Philippines running large-scale sextortion operations. These scams are not just ruining lives—they are pushing young victims to suicide.
A Shocking 18,000% Increase in Cases
The scale of the crisis is almost beyond belief. Reports from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) show that cases of sextortion have skyrocketed from 139 in late 2021 to over 28,000 in 2024.
That’s an increase of 18,000% in just a few years!
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has launched awareness campaigns, but the rapid evolution of these crimes makes tackling them incredibly difficult.
Teenage Boys Are the Primary Targets
Unlike traditional online exploitation, where girls are often at greater risk, 90% of sextortion victims are boys aged 14-17. However, experts warn that perpetrators are now targeting even younger children, with some victims as young as 11 years old.
Criminals operate in a highly systematic way:
– They create fake profiles on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, pretending to be young, attractive women.
– They lure victims into private conversations, often sending a fake explicit image first to build trust.
– Once the victim sends a compromising image, the blackmail begins—demands for money, threats to share images with friends, family, and schools.
– Some perpetrators now fake evidence to make it look like the victim is a criminal, increasing the pressure.
These tactics leave victims feeling trapped, hopeless, and ashamed—a devastating combination that has led to multiple reported suicides.
The Devastating Toll—Including Suicide
The human cost of sextortion is heartbreaking.
- In the US alone, at least 44 teenage boys have died by suicide following sextortion since 2021.
- Some victims have taken their own lives just minutes after being blackmailed.
- The UK’s National Crime Agency warns that suicide cases linked to sextortion are becoming more frequent worldwide.
One of the most disturbing aspects? Tech companies are failing to stop it.
Social Media’s Role in the Crisis
Despite the massive scale of the problem, platforms like Instagram and Snapchat remain a breeding ground for sextortion scams.
- Features like “Quick Add” and visible follower lists allow criminals to easily target victims.
- Investigators have found the same scammer images being used across dozens of accounts, yet platforms fail to intercept obvious patterns of abuse.
- Advocates argue that if any other product harmed this many children, it would be banned immediately.
Yet, social media giants continue to drag their feet on implementing stronger protections.
What Needs to Change?
Governments, tech companies, and schools must act now to stop this epidemic. Solutions include:
– Stronger tech regulations—platforms must take responsibility for identifying and removing criminal accounts faster.
– Better parental and school education—most boys don’t even realise they are being scammed until it’s too late.
– Stronger mental health support—victims must know they are not alone and that they can get help without shame or fear.
– Clearer law enforcement strategies—international cooperation is essential to track and shut down the criminal networks behind these scams.
The Bottom Line: Sextortion Thrives on Silence
The most important thing young people need to know? You are not alone, and you don’t have to pay.
The National Crime Agency advises:
– DO NOT pay the blackmailer—it only leads to more demands.
– DO seek help immediately—report the crime and talk to someone you trust.
This crisis is growing, but by breaking the silence and exposing these tactics, we can protect young people and push for real change.
Sources:
- “An 18,000% increase: Sextortion is targeting and killing teenagers | The Pointer” (Published March 10, 2025)
- “British teenage boys being targeted by Nigerian ‘sextortion’ gangs | The Leader” (Published March 20, 2025)
- “Children in UK as young as 11 targeted by sextortion criminals, data reveals | Young people | The Guardian” (Published March 9, 2025)
- “Police Professional | NCA launches online campaign to tackle ‘sextortion’ among teenage boys” (Published March 20, 2025)
- “Teen boys main target of ‘unimaginably cruel’ sextortion | The Independent” (Published March 20, 2025)