Increase in Sextortion Cases Targeting British Teenage Boys Amid Growing Concerns

The NCA warns of escalating sextortion cases targeting British teenage boys, primarily perpetrated by Nigerian crime syndicates. Young boys are deceived into sharing explicit images on social media and subsequently blackmailed. The NCA has initiated an awareness campaign to educate youths and their guardians about recognizing and reporting sextortion while addressing the growing concern around child sexual abuse.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a warning regarding the rise of online sexual extortion, known as sextortion, targeting British teenage boys. These criminal activities, particularly orchestrated by Nigerian crime syndicates, involve deception via social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, wherein boys as young as 14 are coaxed into sending explicit images under false pretenses. Victims thereafter face demands for payment, typically around £100, with threats of exposure looming if they refuse to comply.

Despite a predominance of female victims in child sexual exploitation cases, it is noted that 90% of sextortion victims fall within the age bracket of 14 to 17 years and are predominantly male. Gangs not only hail from Nigeria but also from countries such as Ivory Coast and the Philippines. Marie Smith, a senior manager at the NCA’s child exploitation and online protection command, referenced the trend as “extremely disturbing” and emphasized the tactics used by offenders who create fake profiles of young women to entice their victims.

The NCA’s awareness campaign, set to launch, emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to panic or engaging with the blackmailers. Victims are encouraged to remain calm and not pay the demands, as doing so could lead to continuous exploitation. Furthermore, collaborative efforts with law enforcement in Nigeria are in place to combat these nefarious activities. The campaign will specifically target boys aged 15 to 17 and utilize popular social media platforms to educate them on sextortion tactics and safe reporting methods.

Alex Murray, NCA’s director of threat leadership, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that sextortion has led to devastating outcomes for many young individuals. The campaign aims to empower affected youths with knowledge to recognize the threat and understand that they are not at fault if they become victims. A significant volume of reports on sextortion has been documented in both the UK and the United States, further showcasing the urgency of this issue.

In response to the escalating concern around child sexual abuse, which saw nearly 40,000 offences committed by children in 2023, the NCA has also extended guidance for parents and guardians. This guidance aims to assist them in recognizing signs of sextortion, effectively engaging their children in discussions about the dangers, and supporting victims adequately. Previous alerts to educational institutions have heightened awareness and preparedness among teachers to respond appropriately to sextortion cases.

In summary, the NCA has identified a troubling increase in sextortion targeting British teenage boys, primarily orchestrated by Nigerian crime gangs. The agency’s awareness campaign aims to educate and empower youths to recognize and report these threats effectively while providing guidance for parents. This initiative is crucial in combating sextortion and protecting young individuals from the devastating effects of this crime, as highlighted by rising statistics on child sexual abuse and the increasing number of sextortion reports.

Original Source: www.irishnews.com