Police were told an individual was targeting young people by posing as someone else online and attempting to extort them. Photo: 123rf
Police are investigating reports of Dunedin high school students being targeted for sextortion.
Police were told an individual was targeting the young people by posing as someone else online and attempting to extort them, Detective Sergeant Reece Munro said.
He urged parents and guardians to have healthy and open conversations with young people about the risks of being online, and to be proactive with online safety.
To avoid being a victim of child exploitation and sextortion, verify the people you are communicating with online, he said.
When instances of sextortion occur, the offending generally begins with a direct message on social media to the victim.
They are then asked to continue chatting on a different app, and gradually the conversation becomes sexualised, although in some cases not obvious to high school-aged children, Munro said.
From here, the victim is coerced into sharing photos and/or videos of themselves, their school friends or their family.
In time, these photos can be used as blackmail in threatening to post online, or share them with people close to the victim.
In some instances, photos are reportedly doctored by the offender to make the victim appear to be in even more compromising positions. Compromising images of the young person could also be captured from video files which can then be traded across the internet.
US exploitation expert Paul Raffile told Nine to Noon in May young people had become the focus of scammers with fake Instagram and Snapchat accounts over the past two years, as part of a troubling global trend.
Police recommendations for victims of sextortion:
- Avoid sending any more images or videos, even if they are threatening you
- Remember once you have complied with their demands there is nothing preventing them targeting you again
- Save all the online chat, immediately take screenshots or screen recordings
- Block the profile
- Report the content to the platform (i.e. the social media or website they contacted you on, or the content has been sent or posted on) and request the content is removed
- To report this type of offending contact police on 105, or an online report through Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz/report.
Netsafe: Offers support, including guiding you through any steps you may be able to take if you've been caught up in a sextortion scam, and advice on how to stay safe in future. We may be able to help with reporting profiles and content to the online platforms. Email help@netsafe.org.nz or texting on 4282 or 0508 638 723 8am - 8pm weekdays and 9am - 5pm on weekends
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.