Sextortion has become a global pandemic for victims — and booming business for those responsible. The crime was responsible for $33.5 million in financial losses in 2024, according to data from the FBI. With money like that, it’s no wonder so many see it as an opportunity to get rich quickly. But what factors push people to put their morals aside and commit such heinous acts for cash? Keep reading to learn more about who a sextortionist is.
Who is a Sextortionist?
A sextortionist is a cybercriminal who weaponizes their victim’s intimate images for blackmail. They typically pose as attractive individuals and initiate conversations on social media or dating websites. Sextortionists often study their target’s online accounts to gather intel. They combine this knowledge with social engineering strategies to manufacture trust.
The scheme reaches a boiling point when the sextortionist suggests exchanging nudes. They may even send stolen or AI-generated content to quell any doubts. Once the target sends their content, the tone shifts. The perpetrator’s intentions become clear as they begin issuing threats to expose the intimate media if their demands aren’t met.
Common Traits Shared by Sextortionist
Sextortionists live a double life. The individual they portray online is vastly different from who they are when they’re out from behind the screen. These glaring juxtapositions become obvious after they acquire your content and drop their façade.
Common Traits of a Sextortionist Online:
- Profiles that are too good to be true.
- Sudden declarations of intense love.
- A suspicious number of shared interests.
Common Traits of a Sextortionist in Real Life:
- Highly manipulative and skilled in social engineering.
- Narcissistic personalities that lack empathy for others.
- Impulsive, sporadic, and desperate.
Why Do They Turn to Sextortion?
Many sextortionists live in impoverished regions of the world. Nearly half of all sextortion reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2024 originated from the Ivory Coast or Nigeria.
It is in these areas where groups like the “Yahoo Boys” flourish. Members of these organized cybercrime groups flaunt lavish lifestyles in areas primarily struggling to get by. They take to social media to show off their “earnings”, recruit new scammers, and distribute training material.
Many see these posts and view it as a way to better their own situation. Numerous university students in Nigeria participated in Yahoo Boy scams as a means to finance their education. The scamming success of the Yahoo Boys has even led some to view it as a more promising prospect than post-education employment.
The economic uncertainty has also helped perpetuate the crime. Banking layoffs due to Nigeria’s economic recession have led to young, inexperienced workers in these roles. These workers are more easily influenced by the Yahoo Boys, and some actively participate due to financial instability.
This perpetual cycle of seeing wrongdoers achieve wealth while hard workers face turmoil has led many to sextortion. The rewards they see on social media outweigh the risks of getting caught, which happens far too infrequently. This is why it’s so critically important for victims of sextortion to report the crime to the proper authorities.
Real-Word Examples
To understand who is a sextortionist, it’s important to look at examples from the past. These cases can provide insight into how these criminals operate, who they target, and what drives them.
7NEWS Spotlight Sits Down with a Sextortionist
In a piece covering sextortion, Sarah Greenhalgh visited Lagos, Nigeria to see one of the largest global hotspots for the crime. While she was there, she sat down with Daniel, a 21-year-old university student turned sextortionist.
Daniel explained that he and his colleagues buy hacked Instagram accounts, which are sold for only a few dollars. They then use name generators to find a name to target on the platform. While some sextortion scams target specific victims, this particular example shows that anyone could be targeted at random.
Daniel went on to explain that they will initiate “sex chats” with the target. To do this, they will steal photos of models on adult websites. After sending these images, they wait for the target to return the favor. From there, the blackmail ensues.
One individual explained why so many of the youth in Nigeria turn to sextortion as a means of income.
“Everything is so expensive,” they said. “We don’t have jobs. We don’t have any options. That is the reason why some of us got into fraud, thieving, or something that’s no good.”
One of the reasons sextortion has become so popular in Nigeria is the ability to get cheap equipment. Many stores sell used electronics, often coming from western countries, for a marked down price.
Through investigative journalism like Greenhalgh’s, we can get a better understanding of why sextortionists do what they do. Like any public issue, it’s essential to understand why it happens to be able to find a solution.
Michigan Teen Sextorted by Nigerian Brothers
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were extradited and sentenced to 17-and-a-half years in federal prison for sextorting teens across the U.S. One of whom was Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old from Michigan who took his own life.
The two brothers posed as a girl around Jordan’s age and messaged him on Instagram. The profile looked believable and was even followed by one of Jordan’s friends. Based on what we learned in the last example, it’s possible the brothers bought hacked accounts.
The brothers flirted with Jordan through their fake identity, eventually encouraging the exchange of intimate photos. When he complied, they instantly began blackmailing him for $1,000.
Jordan sent as much money as he had, but the demands and threats were unrelenting. When he discussed intentions to commit self-harm, he was met with encouragement. The criminals went as far as to tell him to “Do it fast, or I’ll make you do it.”
Jordan was about as high up in the high school hierarchy as one can get. He was a multi-sport athlete, homecoming king, and well received by all of his peers. Many in his community likely viewed him as untouchable. Unfortunately, nobody is immune to sextortion.
This example serves as a stark reminder of this fact. ESPN covered Jordan’s story, as well as other prominent high school athletes who have been victimized by sextortion. The pressure on student athletes to maintain their public image for college offers makes them a prime target for sextortionists.
Using What You Know to Stay Safe from Sextortionist
Now that you know who a sextortionist is and what factors drive them, you should use this knowledge to shape your online presence. When you engage with individuals online, keep in mind the motivations of sextortionist and the tactics they often use.
It’s important to remain diligent in your effort to stay informed. Sextortion is nothing new, but the attention it’s receiving on a global scale is relatively recent. New information and expert suggestions are revealed as we gain a better understanding of the crime.
Furthermore, work like the journalism of Sarah Greenhalgh should be encouraged. By speaking with former sextortionists, we can enter their mind and understand the root cause of the crime. The circumstances don’t excuse these evil enterprises, but they could help put an end to them.
