BTITV News recently visited us to investigate the alarming increase in sextortion cases the Helpline has seen since 2021. Throughout the day, they witnessed firsthand the crucial support our Helpline provides to any adult affected by Sextortion in the UK.
You can watch the full ITV News Story about sextortion on YouTube, please be aware that some viewers may find this content distressing.
New Sextortion Data
As part of their visit, the ITV news team learned about the prevalence of sextortion in the UK and the rising cases of sextortion the Helpline saw in 2023. The figures demonstrate that sextortion continues to be one of the leading issues the Helpline supports, with the majority of cases affecting men.
ITV News got the opportunity to speak with Revenge Porn Helpline staff, including manager Sophie Mortimer and practitioners Izzy Petherick and Amanda Dashwood. Their conversations highlighted the significant harm that sextortion scammers are causing individuals.
Izzy Petherick shared a recent phone call she had taken by someone affected by sextortion, explaining to ITV News that she often supports university students affected by sextortion. In many of her cases, she reveals that individuals can lose thousands of pounds during their time at university, due to the extent of sextortion scams.
Sextortion Tactics
The latest data comes after the Revenge Porn Helpline 2022 report revealed changes in the approach being employed by sextortion scammers, with perpetrators often utilising a variety of different platforms to facilitate these crimes. Alongside this, a rising number of sextortion scams were resulting in intimate images being circulated, making up approximately 20% of cases.
While discussing what to do if involved in a sextortion attempt, Amanda explained the importance of not sending any money to blackmailers and following our advice to stop all contact with the scammer, block them, and report them to the platform on which they are making threats. Amanda highlights the importance of reaching out for support and the various ways our Helpline can support those affected by sextortion in the UK.
Criminal Gangs
In most cases of sextortion, the crime is committed by organised criminal gangs based overseas, making it incredibly hard for UK law enforcement to find and prosecute them.
As Sophie Mortimer explains to ITV News, sextortion scammers work from call-centre-like environments, operating in a similar way to businesses. Sophie emphasises that in many cases, scammers will frequently move on if individuals follow our advice and refuse to pay them any money.
Reach out for support
If you have been affected by a sextortion scam, there is help available. Our Helpline provides a list of emotional support services you can reach out to. To access support or find out more about sextortion, visit the Sextortion Awareness Page.
Any adult affected by intimate image abuse in the UK can get in touch with us by calling 0345 6000 459 or by emailing help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk.
Adults worldwide can also access StopNCII.org, to protect their intimate images from being shared across partnering platforms.
You can find out more about intimate image abuse on our website.
