{"id":12245,"date":"2023-10-10T11:21:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T18:21:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/blog\/?p=12245"},"modified":"2026-01-22T12:07:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T20:07:50","slug":"sextortion-scams-watch-out-for-these-types-of-blackmail-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.socialcatfish.cloud\/scamfish\/sextortion-scams-watch-out-for-these-types-of-blackmail-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Sextortion Scams: Watch Out For These Types of Blackmail Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Based on the FBI\u2019s Internet Complaint Center<\/a> reports, sextortion scams have skyrocketed amid strict home COVID-19 quarantine protocols<\/a> during the pandemic. Scam artists typically send emails threatening you to expose intimate images or videos<\/a> if you don\u2019t give them money. Aside from losing money, some even end up taking their own lives, indicating just how serious these scams are.<\/a>\u00a0To help protect yourself against these scammers, we will share what sextortion scams are, the types of sextortion scams, and how you can avoid them. Read on to help combat these crooks!<\/p>\n

What Are Sextortion Scams?<\/h2>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/pexels-kaboompics-com-6111-scaled.jpg” panorama=”off” imgwidth=”100%” align=”center” lightbox=”off” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”center” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Sextortion scams involve threatening or blackmailing people by exposing explicit images<\/a>, videos, and other intimate activities for monetary gain. Scammers will usually send you emails saying that they have a copy or a recording of your sexually explicit content and that they will send it to your family, friends, and literally anyone if you don\u2019t agree to pay them.<\/p>\n

They will also claim that they have access to your browser history, proving that you\u2019ve watched pornography.<\/a> However, the truth is, they don\u2019t have a copy of these images or videos, and they\u2019re just trying to take advantage of your fear to gain money.<\/p>\n

Types of Sextortion Scams<\/h2>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/pexels-ivan-samkov-6968834-scaled.jpg” panorama=”off” imgwidth=”100%” align=”center” lightbox=”off” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”center” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

The first step to avoiding sextortion scams is knowing the different types and tactics used by scam artists, which we\u2019ll discuss below:<\/p>\n

Romance Scams<\/h3>\n

This type of sextortion scam starts with a romance scammer<\/a> that you meet online. They will show interest in you, shower you with sweet and touching messages, and then declare their love for you even in the early stages of communication. Since they sound genuine, you think they\u2019re someone you can trust and consider a real<\/a> partner.<\/p>\n

However, once they think you\u2019re comfortable and in love with them, they will ask for money<\/a> and promise to pay you back. Then, they will ask you to send<\/a> intimate images and videos. While you may think it\u2019s normal for couples to do this, scammers will start blackmailing you for money once they have these photos<\/a> or videos.<\/p>\n

Phishing Scams<\/h3>\n

A common type of sextortion scam is phishing<\/a>. The scammer will send you an email<\/a> saying that they\u2019ve hacked your device and recorded you while watching porn. They will also say that they have a copy of all the pornographic sites you have visited. And, if you don\u2019t pay them, they will share this embarrassing content with everyone.<\/p>\n

However, these kinds of threats are usually empty, and they can\u2019t even share sufficient information<\/a> to support their claims. It\u2019s obviously a scam<\/a> if you haven\u2019t visited any porn websites, but the scammers claim otherwise. While it\u2019s natural to feel afraid when you receive threats, do not make the mistake of sending them money or sharing more personal information<\/a>, and report them immediately.<\/p>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/pexels-craig-adderley-1670035-scaled.jpg” panorama=”off” imgwidth=”100%” align=”center” lightbox=”off” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”center” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Zoom Scams<\/h3>\n

As more people have been using Zoom<\/a> since the pandemic began, scammers take this as an opportunity to collect more victims. They will tell you that they have maximized the security vulnerabilities of the Zoom app<\/a>. So, they have gained access<\/a> to your camera and device and made footage of your sexual acts. This is almost certainly a lie.<\/p>\n

In one particular email, a scammer asked an individual for a $2,000 bitcoin<\/a>, giving a two-day deadline for the payment. However, no vulnerabilities were found in the app, which means that the scammers<\/a> were only bluffing.<\/p>\n

Minor Scams<\/h3>\n

Scammers pretend to be a young girl and reach out to guys on dating apps<\/a>, looking to “get lucky.” Once a guy is lured in, they convince them to send them their phone number since they don’t like talking on the app. Once they send them their phone numbers<\/a>, the girl convinces them to send explicit pictures of themselves by sending stolen explicit photos to them.<\/p>\n

The victims send their pictures over, and the girl states she’s sixteen years old<\/a>. The guy blocks her thinking that it’s over, but the scammer still has the victims’ phone number<\/a>. They start contacting the victim as the dad of the supposed daughter and claim that if the victims don’t send them money, they will contact the cops<\/a> for talking to their underage daughter. The victims become scared and start sending money over to the scammer<\/a>, but the amount of money is never enough. The scammer requests more money from their victims until they are fearful<\/a> and bankrupt.<\/p>\n

How To Avoid Sextortion Scams<\/h2>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/pexels-freestocksorg-48017-scaled.jpg” panorama=”off” imgwidth=”100%” align=”center” lightbox=”off” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”center” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Given how sextortion scams<\/a> can hurt not only your savings but also your mental health, learn how to avoid them with the following steps:<\/p>\n