Sextortion, a heady mix of "sex" and "extortion". Which involves threatening to distribute intimate, sexual image of a person, unless a victim complies with certain demands. Yet despite its serious nature, this crime is underreported and shrouded in shame.
The Dark World of Male Sex Crime
This is because many of the new victims of this crime are male. A group which historically carry shame and embarrassment, when it comes to sex crimes. A situation which leads to underreporting, making specific global figures elusive. But certain trends point to a rapid rise in male sextortion crime.
A Global Crisis
Particularly, in the United States where the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3) is receiving thousands of sextortion complaints annually. The majority of which are also reporting substantial financial losses. Which is why law enforcement and cybersecurity experts agree that sextortion cases are on the rise globally. Whilst also disproportionately affecting young man, in the social media ecosystem.
A Growing Concern for Men
Initially associated with female victims, sextortion has seen a significant increase in cases involving men. This disturbing trend has been fuelled by the rise of technology and the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals. Coupled with male victims' ignorance to their vulnerability. With many men unaware of the dangers they place themselves in when engaging in online sexting activities.
A Reversal of Fate
Unsuspecting men are being subjected to a seamless process of well-orchestrated steps:
Online Grooming: Perpetrators pose as attractive women, keen to establish a rapport with their victims.
Coercion: Once trust is built, victims are manipulated into sharing explicit images or videos.
Extortion: The perpetrators then threaten to release the explicit content unless the victim complies with demands, usually for money.
In 2023, international law enforcement agencies labelled sextortion as a global crisis. With sextortion among adult male being identified as the fastest growing group. This is because researchers have indicated that men are twice as likely as women to have experienced sextortion.
Factors contributing to their greater victimisation includes:
Higher Likelihood of Accepting Sexual Advances: Men are more likely to engage with potential partners online.
Sending Unsolicited Images: Men are more likely to send unsolicited images, which can then be used to extort them.
Suicidal Consequences
Sextortion can also have many negative effects on victims. With victims often experiencing anxiety, depression, economic distress, and health problems. A recent study of male victims of sextortion reported a high level of suicidal thoughts among this group. A particularly concerning statistic given men's already elevated risk of dying by suicide.
Conclusion
Finally, in the absence of tangible intervention from outside agencies, the outlook for this cohort remains grim. Male sextortion therefore appears to be a profitable criminal endeavour that is set to grow.
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