NCA launches online campaign to tackle ‘sextortion’ among teenage boys

It aims to increase awareness of sextortion, drawing attention to the tactics used by offenders and promoting how offences can be reported.

Launched on Thursday (March 20) the campaign will feature on social media channels, including Instagram, Reddit and Snapchat.

The NCA said sextortion involves people being forced into paying money or meeting another financial demand, after an offender has threatened to release nude or semi-nude photos of them. This could be a real photo taken by the victim, or a fake image created of them by the offender.

NCA-commissioned research conducted prior to the campaign’s launch showed that 74 per cent of boys questioned did not fully understand what sextortion was; the same proportion did not see requests for nude images as a warning sign or attempt of ‘sextortion; 73 per cent were not aware of how to report incidents; and only 12 per cent admitted they may be at risk of sextortion.

The NCA says sextortion is typically perpetrated by organised crime groups based overseas, predominantly in some West African countries, but also South East Asia.

“They are motivated by making money quickly, rather than by sexual gratification, and in some cases have gone from initial contact to blackmailing their victim in under an hour,” it added.

All age groups and genders have been targeted, but the month-long campaign is aimed at boys aged between 15 and 17.

The NCA’s CEOP Safety Centre received 380 reports of sextortion in 2024 and in the first five months of 2024, police forces received an average of 117 reports of sextortion from under-18s each month.

However, the NCA says offences related to child sexual abuse are generally underreported and the actual figure is likely to be higher.

In the year to June 2024, the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received an average of 556 reports of sextortion a week, amounting to more than 28,000 global cases per year – up from 26,718 the previous year.

Alex Murray, NCA director of threat leadership, said: “Sextortion is unimaginably cruel and can have devastating consequences for victims.

“This campaign will help empower young boys, giving them the knowledge to spot the dangers posed by this crime type and how to report it. It supports them to understand that if it does happen, it is never their fault.

“It will also take the advantage away from the criminals responsible, whose only motivation is financial gain.

“Sadly, teenagers in the UK and around the world have taken their own lives because of sextortion, which has been a major factor behind launching this campaign.

“We are also issuing guidance to parents and carers about how to have conversations with young people to help them spot the dangers posed by perpetrators of sextortion.

“A lot of victims feel responsible for the situation they find themselves in. But we need them to know this is absolutely not the case; you are not to blame and help and support is available. As well as raising awareness, we want to encourage young people to report incidents to an adult they trust, the police or to the CEOP Safety Centre.”

The latest campaign follows an “unprecedented alert” issued by the NCA in April last year to teachers across the UK, which reached an estimated 320,000 to 365,000 people or roughly two thirds of all teaching staff.

These professionals reported that the alert had helped them recognise sextortion, and made them better prepared if they should encounter any cases of it.

Alongside this new campaign for teenage boys, the NCA is also issuing guidance for parents and carers on how to support their child if they become a victim.

This encourages them to develop their understanding of sextortion; talk to their child about sextortion; and recognise reporting routes and how to support their child, if they become a victim of sextortion.

Sandra Paul, partner in the criminal litigation practice at law firm Kingsley Napley, said: “There has been a worrying increase in the number of  sextortion cases involving teenage boys that we have seen over the last year, with victims often having to deal with highly distressing repercussions.

“Financially motivated sexual extortion is frequently carried out by organised crime groups based overseas who deliberately target vulnerable male victims aged 14-18. Their tactics and threats can be both manipulative and extremely frightening.

“Sadly due to the age of many victims, and the shame, anxiety and embarrassment that comes with being manipulated in this way, attempts are often made to deal with the threats without involving others in a position of responsibility, in the hope that it will all just go away. Things can spiral with devastating consequences.

“This is why the NCA’s campaign being launched today is soimportant.  Education and practical advice is urgently needed to help stem this epidemic.”

She added: “Many have also debated how the law can help to address the rise in sextortion cases and the answer is unfortunately not straightforward.

“There are various Acts which can be used to try a sextortion offence depending on the circumstances. In many cases, for example an act of sextortion is likely to amount to the criminal offence of blackmail, contrary to Section 21 of the Theft Act 1968. But problems can arise around the definition of menace or where a demand for sexually explicit images has not involved money.

“Consent too can come into play. Section 21 does not cover such issues; neither does the Sexual Offences Act 2003 or the revenge porn legislation found at Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (as amended). To that extent there may well be a compelling argument for legislative change. However given many perpetrators are based overseas the question often arises as to whether the time and effort involved would really be worthwhile.

“Much more could be done on improving takedown processes for any images shared or posted online for sure. And helpfully, the Online Safety Act 2023 lists ‘intimate image abuse’ as a priority in terms of the illegal content that platforms need to protect users from. Given Ofcom’s powers are not limited to the UK this should enhance the chances of pursuing crime gangs operating from outside the country more effectively, although questions remain regarding Ofcom’s resources and capabilities.

“However as ever regardless of the legal framework, criminal gangs are often one step ahead of law enforcement agents. That is why today’s campaign is to be applauded. A significant way of curbing sextortion must be increased awareness and prevention.”