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Guernsey Police have warned a significant increase in cases of 'sextortion' this year aligns with a worrying nationwide trend.
Sextortion involves blackmailing individuals with explicit images or threats of exposure.
It's noted that while anyone can be a victim, 91% of all cases reported to the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK last year were 14- to 18-year-old boys.
To try and combat the issue, Guernsey Police have been actively educating students and staff in schools about sextortion prevention. Not ony have they incorporated the topic into the PSHE curriculum, but they've also conducted workshops and assemblies.
Authorities urge parents to have open conversations with their children about online safety, including the risks of sextortion. Victims are advised to avoid paying demands, document the incident, cut off contact with the offender, and seek support from trusted adults.
Reporting the crime to the police is crucial they say.
The following advice has been offered for anyone that finds themselves in this position:
• Only accept friend requests from people you have met face to face
• Do not pay
• Screen shot what has happened, don’t delete anything
• Stop all contact, block and report
• Get support from a trusted adult
• Report to the Police on 222 222
In a statement, Digital Safety Development Officer Laura Simpson said the crime is about money through manipulation.
“Sextortion is a crime which is ultimately about money. The criminals involved are not technologically sophisticated but know how to manipulate young men into believing they have no choice but to pay up. This crime plays on the feelings of guilt and shame, which makes it easy to isolate teenagers. Through our schools programme, we have shared information and advice about avoiding sextortion, and would encourage anyone who may have been victim of this type of crime to report it.”
Guernsey Police advise anyone seeking more information on Sextortion to visit the National Crime Agencies website, which can be found HERE.
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