Nigerian Crime Gangs Target British Teenage Boys in Sextortion Schemes

British teenage boys are increasingly subjected to sextortion by Nigerian crime gangs using social media to coerce them into sharing explicit images. Approximately 90% of sextortion victims are boys aged 14 to 17. The NCA’s awareness campaign highlights the necessity for victims to remain calm and not to pay the blackmailers, reinforcing the message that such exploitation is never the victim’s fault. The NCA is actively working with Nigerian law enforcement to address these crimes.

British teenage boys, particularly those aged 14 to 17, are increasingly targeted by Nigerian crime gangs involved in “sextortion” schemes, as reported by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Gangs employ deceitful tactics through platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, convincing victims to send explicit images under the pretense of gaining similar images in return. Subsequently, these young individuals face threats of their photos being shared with family and friends unless they pay a ransom.

Although the majority of child sexual exploitation victims are female, approximately 90% of sextortion cases involve males. The NCA identifies gangs operating not only in Nigeria but also in the Ivory Coast and the Philippines. Marie Smith, a senior manager at the NCA’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP), remarked that these operations are harrowing.

Smith elaborated that offenders commonly create fake profiles posing as young women to coax boys into sharing indecent images. Once the images are obtained, the victims experience pressure to pay, often given only a few minutes to comply before threats are enacted. Alarmingly, adults as old as 30 have also been victims, with some tragically resorting to suicide out of fear regarding the exposure of their images.

The NCA has initiated a campaign to raise awareness and support victims, encouraging them not to panic or comply with the blackmailers. Smith asserted, “Do not pay – stay calm. We can help. If you pay once, they will just demand more.” Furthermore, the NCA is collaborating with law enforcement in Nigeria to address these crimes comprehensively.

Alex Murray, the NCA’s director of threat leadership, stated, “Sextortion is unimaginably cruel and can have devastating consequences for victims.” The campaign aims to educate young boys on recognizing the dangers of sextortion and understanding that such victimization is never their fault. It also seeks to remove the leverage criminals possess, whose primary motivation is financial gain. Fears regarding sextortion have been linked to the tragic loss of young lives, contributing to the urgency of this campaign.

In 2024 alone, the NCA’s CEOP safety center recorded 380 sextortion cases. Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet, highlighted the increasing frequency of financial sextortion among older teens, explaining how these scams initiate through flirtatious interactions before escalating into exploitation and abuse. He emphasized that the organized assault on young people by criminal gangs reflects a concerning trend that necessitates immediate attention and preventive measures.

In summary, the prevalence of sextortion targeting British teenage boys by crime gangs represents an alarming trend that calls for urgent action. Through deception on social platforms, these gangs exploit young individuals, threatening the dissemination of explicit material in exchange for ransom. The National Crime Agency’s awareness campaign serves not only to educate potential victims but also to empower them to seek assistance and refuse to comply with extortion demands. Immediate collaboration with international law enforcement is critical to combat these crimes effectively and support affected individuals.

Original Source: www.lbc.co.uk