Report Reveals Surge in Financial Sextortion Targeting Teen Boys on Social Media
New data shows a dramatic increase in cases where teenage boys are blackmailed with explicit images for money, with Instagram being the primary platform used by perpetrators.
- Financial sextortion incidents have increased significantly, with over 26,700 reports in 2023 alone.
- Teenage boys, particularly those aged 14-17, are the primary targets of these schemes.
- Perpetrators often use 'catfishing' tactics, posing as other teenagers to obtain explicit images.
- Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire are frequently linked to these organized crime networks.
- Victims are typically contacted on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, and then moved to secondary platforms.
USA TODAY 
NBC News 
