Number of sextortion victims TRIPLES in two years: 'Tens of thousands at risk' of blackmail by internet gangs who trick victims into being secretly filmed carrying out sex acts online

  • 1,304 cases reported by UK police forces to National Crime Agency last year
  • Almost three times more than number of sextortions of 2015 which was 428
  • Sextortion sees criminal groups using fake dating profiles to befriend victims
  • They then record victims performing sex acts and threaten to share footage

By MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Britain has seen a huge rise in sextortion victims with tens of thousands of people said to be at risk after being secretly filmed carrying out sex acts.

Some 1,304 cases were reported by UK police forces to the National Crime Agency last year - almost three times more than the number of 428 in 2015.

Sextortion involves organised criminal groups using fake dating profiles to befriend victims and encourage them to live stream sex acts.

Sextortion involves organised criminal groups using fake dating profiles to befriend victims and encourage them to live stream sex acts (file picture posed by model)

Sextortion involves organised criminal groups using fake dating profiles to befriend victims and encourage them to live stream sex acts (file picture posed by model)

Victims are often contacted through dating websites and believe they are in a genuine relationship, and are then persuaded to perform sex acts online.

These are recorded by the criminal gangs who then threaten to share the footage with the victim's friends and family unless they are paid.

The NCA estimates the number of people who have suffered sextortion is much higher than their figures show, with victims failing to report the crimes to police.

At least five suicides have been linked to sextortion, which is predominately committed by overseas criminal gangs, according to the agency.

Men aged over 60 or between 17 and 25 are said to be the biggest targets, with an increasing number of British Armed Forces personnel being sextorted.

John Branney, from the NCA's anti-kidnap and extortion unit, said: 'The upward trend in cases of sextortion and the devastating effect on victims are extremely worrying.

The National Crime Agency, based in this building in Vauxhall, London, described the upward trend in cases of sextortion and the effect on victims are 'extremely worrying'

The National Crime Agency, based in this building in Vauxhall, London, described the upward trend in cases of sextortion and the effect on victims are 'extremely worrying'

'Due to the nature of the crime we know there are a huge number of cases that go unreported and that the figures released today are just the tip of the iceberg.

The upward trend in cases of sextortion and the devastating effect on victims are extremely worrying
John Branney, National Crime Agency

'The release of these figures aims to highlight sextortion as a growing crime and help potential victims by showing them how they can protect themselves and what to do if they are targeted.

'We want victims to know that they are not alone and urge them to contact the police where they will be treated sensitively and in confidence.'

Fred Langford, from the Internet Watch Foundation, said: 'Our Indecent Images of Children Campaign, created in partnership with the Marie Collins Foundation, NSPCC and HM Government, seeks to educate young men aged 18 to 24 on the laws around sexual images of under 18s online.

'Within the campaign, one of the topics we cover is sextortion, as young men are particularly vulnerable to being targeted and falling victim to it online. 

'We want to encourage young men to be aware of the risks online, and to speak up if they find themselves being exploited or vulnerable to blackmail.'

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