The National Crime Agency (NCA) has launched a campaign to raise awareness about financially motivated sexual extortion ‘sextortion’ targeting young teenage boys. It aims to increase awareness of the issue, drawing attention to the tactics used by offenders and how to report it, emphasising that it’s never the victim’s fault.
‘Sextortion’ involves people being forced into paying money or meeting another financial demand, after an offender has threatened to release nude or semi-nude photos of them. This could be a real photo taken by the victim, or a fake image created of them by the offender. Teenage boys, including in Northern Ireland, are one of the most at-risk groups for this type of online sexual abuse.
The NCA has issued guidance for parents and carers on recognising risks, talking to children about dangers, and supporting victims. The SBNI Online Safety Committee, newly chaired by DCI Claire Gilbert, has tailored the guidance for audiences in Northern Ireland – which is attached and also available here on the Online Safety Hub.
FINANCIALLY MOTIVATED SEXUAL EXTORTION (FHSE) – ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
We kindly ask you to read, use and share this guidance with local parents and carers through your organisations communication channels. A huge thank you to partners in the NCA, and our committee members for adapting the guidance.