Although sextortion rates in Australia have decreased, 100 children are still targeted every month.

September 3, 2024 TruthUSA

Sextortion is a form of blackmail where individuals threaten to share private images or videos unless demands are met.

Australian sextortion reports have decreased for the first time since 2022. Nonetheless, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are still concerned about the high number of victims being blackmailed.

Sextortion is a type of blackmail where someone threatens to share private and intimate images or videos unless certain demands are fulfilled.

The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received 560 reports of sextortion in the first half of 2024.

This averages to about 93 reports per month in the first half of 2024, a decrease from 300 reports per month in the 2023 calendar year.

AFP Human Exploitation Commander Helen Schneider stated that police believe the drop in sextortion reports is due to various factors.

“Increased public awareness, particularly among parents and young individuals, coupled with the AFP’s collaboration with partners like AUSTRAC, are likely making it more challenging for criminals to exploit children online,” she said.

Schneider highlighted the close collaboration between the AFP and AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial crime monitoring organization, and financial institutions to create a hostile environment for organized criminals.

“Our intelligence indicates our effectiveness, as organized criminals frequently complain online about the difficulty of extorting money from young Australians,” she stated.

Law enforcement has actively worked with the financial sector to shut down bank accounts in Australia linked to international organized crime groups involved in extortion.

Under Operation Huntsman, authorities have closed over 1,800 Australian bank, financial service, and digital currency accounts connected to offshore organized criminals engaging in sexually extorting Australian teenagers.

AFP Continue Efforts to Reduce Victim Numbers

While the AFP is pleased with the decrease in sextortion reports, they remain concerned about the significant number of children still being targeted.

“Although reports have declined, this remains an under-reported crime, with almost 100 reports of children in Australia being targeted by criminals every month,” Schneider noted.

“That is why the AFP will continue to create a hostile environment for those who aim to exploit our children during National Child Protection Week and beyond.”

Indicators that a child may be a victim of sextortion include sudden sexualized conversations, immediate reception of sexual images from a profile, and requests for reciprocal images.

Other signs include random friend requests from unknown individuals, receiving direct messages on one app and then being redirected to another, and fake profiles claiming to delete content.

“The fake profile may state technical issues to avoid video calls/chats for identity confirmation,” as per the AFP.

The AFP advised victims of sextortion to end communication, capture screenshots, block the account, seek help from a trusted person, and receive professional assistance.

Additionally, victims were urged to report the crime to the ACCCE and advised against meeting demands or engaging in further communication.

“Members of the public with information on individuals involved in online child sexual exploitation are encouraged to contact the ACCCE. In cases of imminent abuse or child endangerment, contact the police immediately by dialing 000,” the AFP urged.

Meanwhile, AUSTRAC Acting National Manager Law Enforcement and Industry Anthony Helmond highlighted that internet access and online financial transactions’ ease have made susceptible groups globally easy targets for criminals.

“By combining our intelligence and resources, we are able to identify and combat criminals targeting young Australians through sextortion,” he stated.

AUSTRAC reported that their ability to follow money trails and collaborate with industry has led to multiple account closures supporting offshore organized criminals extorting Australians sexually.

“The government and industry are working in close cooperation to protect the community by tackling this heinous crime,” Helmond added.

Global Issue

Meanwhile, global sextortion cases increased to 26,718 in 2023, up from 10,731 in the 2022 calendar year, data reported to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showed.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill in July urging the education board to consider educating about the dangers of sextortion in public schools in the state.

In the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) issued an alert (pdf) warning education professionals about the significant rise in reports of children and young people being targeted for sextortion globally.

“These groups target individuals of all ages and genders, with a large portion of cases involving male victims aged 14-18,” the NCA reported.

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