Police intensify sextortion crackdown as victim shares his story

Merseyside Police is urging people across Merseyside to be alert to sextortion – a form of online blackmail where criminals threaten to share sexual images or information unless a victim pays money or complies with demands.

Sextortion includes Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion (FMSE), where offenders demand money, and Blackmail for Further Images (BFFI), where offenders pressure victims into sending more content under threat of exposure.

Offenders often use fake profiles, quickly steer conversations into private spaces and exploit fear and embarrassment to keep control. In many cases, sextortion is linked to organised criminals, including offenders operating from overseas, and can escalate rapidly from initial contact to threats.

The force says it treats reports of sextortion seriously and is now running an intensification period focused on raising awareness, supporting victims and proactively identifying offenders, with a view to putting them before the courts.

Peter’s story (not his real name)

As part of the intensification period, an adult male victim – Peter – has agreed to share his experience to help others recognise the warning signs and seek support.

Several years ago, when Peter was around 13 years old, he was spending time on Skype within a gaming community and regularly speaking to people he did not know. He was contacted online and led to believe someone was interested in him.

Peter said: “I remember someone saying this girl was keen, and I added her on Skype. I thought I was talking to someone my age – I had no idea it was going to turn into blackmail.”

Peter explained that the situation escalated quickly. He ended up exposing himself to the person he believed was a girl who liked him. His Skype account was linked to Facebook and his friends list was public, with comments and likes on photos revealing family members – which the offender then used to threaten him.

He said: “It felt like the whole thing turned on its head. I was shocked, and at 13 it was hard to process. The threat of them sending it to my family was terrifying.”

After a brief period, Peter told his mum, who supported him and challenged the offender over Skype. The contact then stopped. Peter says it has only become easier to speak about his experience in recent years and he now realises how much it affected him, including shaping his interest in privacy and cyber security.

Peter added: “At the time I didn’t report it, but I wish I had. Reporting gives the police a chance to identify offenders and stop them harming other people.”

Proactive work to identify offenders

Detective Sergeant Danny Gavin, from Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit, said the force is stepping up enforcement and prevention activity to tackle sextortion and encouraging people to come forward.

DS Gavin said: “Sextortion is blackmail. Offenders use threats and coercion to try to control victims, and we want people to know they will be taken seriously and supported if they report.

“Our specialist investigators are relentless in their pursuit of offenders. We’ll follow the evidence wherever it leads, and work across borders when necessary to identify offenders and put them before the courts.”

As part of the intensification period, Merseyside Police has already taken enforcement action, including the arrest of a male in February linked to reports of sextortion and online blackmail. In this case, victims were contacted on a social media app by profiles posing as young females and encouraged into conversations that led to the exchange of intimate images.

Officers also executed warrants on 14 April and 16 April in connection with two separate investigations where victims were contacted on social media and messaging platforms and then threatened with the sharing of private images or conversations unless money was paid.

These latest two arrests were made outside Merseyside, supported by other police forces, reflecting the cross‑border nature of this offending and the determination of Merseyside Police to follow evidence wherever it leads. All three suspects remain under investigation.

How to report and get advice or support

To report sextortion, report online to Merseyside Police or call 101. If you are under 18, tell a trusted adult straight away so they can help you report and access support.

If you receive a sextortion email demanding cryptocurrency, do not engage. Forward it to [email protected] and then delete it.

If images have been shared (or you’re worried they may be), there are tools that may help: Report Remove (for under‑18s) and StopNCII (for adults).

Victims of cybercrime or fraud can contact Victim Care Merseyside on Freephone 0808 175 3080 (weekdays 8am–6pm) or visit victimcaremerseyside.org.