The FBI is warning the public of for—profit companies offering sextortion victims “assistance” services. These companies charge exorbitant fees, whereas law enforcement and non-profit agencies will provide assistance at no charge to victims.
The companies use deceptive tactics—including threats, manipulation, and providing false information—to coerce sextortion victims into paying for their services. Some of the services for which the companies charge fees, such as sending the perpetrators cease and desist orders, make victims feel better but are not legally enforceable. The companies may also attempt to discourage victims from reporting the sextortion to law enforcement. Limited reporting indicates the companies are directly or indirectly involved in the sextortion activity.
Some examples of these deceptive tactics include the following.
- A company solicited multiple payments totaling $5,000 from a juvenile sextortion victim after coercing the victim with threats of reputational harm, falsely indicating the victim would be unable to go to college or get a job and the victim’s parents would lose their jobs. The victim contacted the company for help after being sextorted via social media.
- A juvenile sextortion victim contacted and hired a company for $2,000. When the victim declined to pay for additional services, the company told the victim the sextortion perpetrator asked for $5,000. At that point, the victim paid for the additional services, for which the company charged him an additional $3,200.
- A company representative contacted the mother of a juvenile sextortion victim and offered to locate the sextortionist in exchange for $1,500. The representative also discouraged the victim’s mother from seeking assistance from law enforcement. It was not clear how the company representative knew about the sextortion or how they obtained the contact information for the victim’s mother.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ASSISTANCE SCAMS
The FBI recommends sextortion victims contact law enforcement and non-profit agencies who assist sextortion victims at no charge. For-profit companies can take advantage of victims’ desperation for assistance and potential feelings of fear or shame that may result from the sextortion. Indicators to watch for include:
- A company representative contacts you and offers assistance services for which the company charges fees;
- The company advertises sextortion assistance in exchange for fees;
- You are asked to pay the fees before the assistance services are rendered;
- The company requires you to sign a contract for their services;
- The company representative discourages you from contacting law enforcement or tells you that contacting law enforcement is not the best way to get help;
- The company uses high-pressure or scare tactics in an effort to secure your business; or
- The for-profit company claims to be connected to government or law enforcement officials.
Reporting Sextortion
If an individual is the victim of sextortion, it can be reported to the appropriate authorities through any of the following:
- Submit a tip to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov;
- Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324);
- Contact your local FBI field office or closest international office (contact information can be found at www.fbi.gov); or
- Call or submit a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) via 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) or CyberTipline.org. NCMEC can help with requesting the removal of the victim’s images from websites. In addition, you can learn more about sextortion and resources by visiting www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion.
You can find more information at fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.
