How often do sextortionists follow through?

How Often Do Sextortionists Follow Through?

Sextortion is a serious form of cybercrime that involves threatening to release intimate images or videos of a victim unless they comply with the perpetrator’s demands. In recent years, sextortion has become increasingly common, with thousands of people falling victim to these types of attacks each year. But how often do sextortionists follow through on their threats?

What is Sextortion?

Before we dive into the frequency of sextortionists’ follow-through, it’s essential to understand what sextortion is. Sextortion is a form of extortion that involves using the threat of releasing intimate images or videos to coerce a victim into providing sexual favors or financial compensation. This can include demands for money, goods, or services, as well as demands for personal information or access to sensitive data.

Types of Sextortion

There are several types of sextortion, including:

• Baiting: The perpetrator sends the victim a malicious link or attachment that appears to be from a legitimate source, but is actually designed to compromise the victim’s device or steal their personal information.
• Phishing: The perpetrator sends the victim a fraudulent email or message that appears to be from a legitimate source, but is actually designed to trick the victim into revealing sensitive information.
• Vishing: The perpetrator uses a phone call or text message to trick the victim into revealing sensitive information.
• Physical coercion: The perpetrator uses physical force or threat of physical harm to coerce the victim into providing sexual favors or financial compensation.

How Often Do Sextortionists Follow Through?

According to a study by the National Center for Victims of Crime, only about 20% of sextortion victims receive any kind of follow-up contact from the perpetrator after the initial threat. However, this does not necessarily mean that the perpetrator has abandoned their demands.

In fact, many sextortionists will continue to contact the victim and demand compliance, even after the initial threat has been made. This can include:

• Repeated threats: The perpetrator may continue to threaten to release the intimate images or videos unless the victim complies with their demands.
• Increased demands: The perpetrator may increase their demands, such as demanding more money or sexual favors.
• Threats of harm: The perpetrator may threaten to harm the victim or their loved ones if they do not comply with their demands.

Why Do Sextortionists Follow Through?

There are several reasons why sextortionists may choose to follow through on their threats:

• Lack of empathy: Many sextortionists have no empathy for their victims and are willing to cause them harm in order to achieve their own goals.
• Power and control: Sextortionists may enjoy the power and control that comes with being able to threaten and intimidate their victims.
• Financial gain: Sextortionists may be motivated by financial gain, and may continue to demand money or other forms of compensation from their victims.

Consequences of Sextortion

Sextortion can have severe and long-lasting consequences for its victims. These can include:

• Emotional trauma: Sextortion can cause significant emotional trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Loss of privacy: Sextortion can result in the loss of privacy and reputation, as the intimate images or videos are shared online.
• Financial loss: Sextortion can result in financial loss, as the victim may be forced to pay money or other forms of compensation to the perpetrator.
• Physical harm: In some cases, sextortion can result in physical harm, as the perpetrator may use physical force or threaten to harm the victim.

How to Protect Yourself from Sextortion

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from sextortion:

• Be cautious online: Be careful when interacting with others online, and avoid sending intimate images or videos to anyone you don’t know.
• Use strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
• Use anti-virus software: Use anti-virus software to protect your device from malware and other types of threats.
• Report suspicious activity: Report any suspicious activity to the authorities, including any attempts to sextort you.

Conclusion

Sextortion is a serious form of cybercrime that can have severe and long-lasting consequences for its victims. While it is difficult to determine how often sextortionists follow through on their threats, it is clear that many victims are subjected to repeated threats and demands. By being aware of the risks and taking steps to protect yourself, you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of sextortion.

Table: Consequences of Sextortion

References

• National Center for Victims of Crime. (2020). Sextortion: A Growing Concern. Retrieved from https://www.victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crisis-responders/crisis-responders-sextortion-glossary
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (2020). Sextortion. Retrieved from https://www.cisa.gov/uscs/sextortion