Sextortion reports rise as victims speak out
New figures show a sharp rise in sextortion reports, with victims like Emma sharing their stories of blackmail and control.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Sextortion, a crime where someone threatens to share intimate images to blackmail a victim for money or compliance, is on the rise, according to new figures and testimony from victims. One young woman, identified only as Emma, told the BBC how she was targeted at 17 by a 26-year-old man she met on a dating site. After a video call in which she undressed, he took screenshots without her knowledge. Over a year-long relationship, he obtained more naked pictures and used them to control her, threatening to expose them if she left or disobeyed him.
Emma described the impact: "You're a teenager so you've already got the teenage problems and to have something like that happen wherein you haven't even started your life, it stops it, ruins it. You don't really see your future anymore after it." Her case is one of many. The Metropolitan Police recorded nearly a thousand blackmail offences mentioning sextortion last year, an 84% increase on the previous year. Childline, the support service for children, reported a rise of more than 50% in counselling sessions related to threats to share sexual images.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has released an awareness film showing how quickly threats escalate, with actors depicting a typical blackmail scenario. The NCA urges victims to report the crime, emphasising that it is never their fault. "In policing we will say a hundred times out of a hundred this is never your fault," said an NCA representative. "You have been coerced, you've been cajoled, you've been manipulated, you've been threatened."
The NSPCC says the technology to prevent children from taking, viewing, or sharing nude images already exists and should be switched on by tech companies. In June, the government gave these companies three months to show meaningful progress or face new laws. The rise in reports may partly reflect greater awareness, but the emotional toll on victims is clear. Emma agreed to speak publicly to help others: "Firstly, you're not alone. That was my biggest enemy. I thought I was completely alone. Because they make you feel that way. It happens so much more than you think and there is a whole community out there that will help you and protect you."
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Childline counselling sessions about threats to share sexual images rose by more than 50% in a year. | |
| The Metropolitan Police recorded nearly a thousand sextortion-related blackmail offences last year, an 84% increase on the previous year. | |
| The NSPCC said technology to prevent children from taking, viewing or sharing nude images already exists and should be enabled by tech companies. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the personal story of Emma to illustrate the human impact of sextortion, while also presenting new statistics from police and Childline. The report highlighted the role of tech companies and government action, and included a strong message from the NCA that victims are never at fault. The tone was empathetic and urgent, with a clear call for victims to report.
- “You hear these stories, you know it happens, yet you never think it can happen to you.”
- “The main threat that he would use was that he would expose pictures of me.”
- “In policing we will say a hundred times out of a hundred this is never your fault.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.