Sextortion targeting teens is online blackmail where criminals — often in organised networks — pose as attractive peers and build rapport before persuading the victim to share intimate images.
Once an image is obtained, they immediately switch to threats: pay money or produce more images, or the content will be shared with the victim's contacts, school, or parents. AI-generated deepfakes are increasingly used — criminals fabricate images without the victim ever sharing anything.
The FBI reports sextortion is up 300% since 2021, with cases targeting boys aged 14–17 rising fastest. NCMEC received over 186,000 sextortion-related reports in 2025, a record high. In Malaysia, PDRM's cyber unit reported a 40% year-on-year increase in cases in 2025. Victims are told that paying will stop the abuse — it will not. Shame and fear of exposure is the weapon used against them.