There are criminal groups using social media such as TikTok, Instagram or YouTube to teach other people how to identify victims and extort money through threats of revealing private images, known as “sextortion”.
This method involves obtaining intimate photographs, which the criminals then threaten to publish unless a “ransom” is paid in return. Cybercriminals then demand payment through services such as Venmo or Cash App, Bitcoin or gift cards. The warning was issued by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) in a report that reported an increase in these types of “stunts” in recent months.
The North American organization therefore recommends that online platforms protect users and enable them to report threats and share personal images. NCRI has also contacted the companies responsible for the apps asking them to remove the criminal content.
Among the most common methods used to carry out this type of sex fraud are fake nude photographs processed by artificial intelligence. Much of the sextortion-related content comes from an unorganized group of cybercriminals in West Africa called the Yahoo Boys, which has gained popularity by promoting websites that teach others how to get rich quick. Financial sex scams have caused a significant number of deaths, especially in the United States. Adolescents and young adults are preferred targets, sometimes leading victims to commit suicide.
Author: Vanessa Fidalgo
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.