How sextortion unfolds

Sextortion can be hard to spot.

Sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’ is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video of you unless you give in to their demands.

It can look like a casual chat, someone flirting, or a profile that seems genuine. Many blackmailers are skilled at building trust quickly while hiding what they’re really after. In some cases, they’re organised scammers operating anonymously from elsewhere.

That’s what makes it easy to miss in the moment.

By the time something feels off, the pressure may have already started.

Many people don’t reach out straight away because they feel embarrassed, ashamed or overwhelmed. Some also worry that asking for help will make things worse.

That fear is exactly what blackmailers rely on.

Knowing the playbook can help you spot the signs earlier, understand how situations escalate, and know what to do next.

On this page

• If sextortionists were honest
• Young men are at risk
• How it unfolds
• Where it happens
• How blackmailers appear believable
• What the blackmail can sound like

If only sextortionists were honest.

No fake charm. No flirty small talk. No pretending to be interested.

Just the truth from the start.

Unfortunately, that would make spotting them far too easy.

Instead, they hide behind fake profiles and pressure once they think they’ve got your attention.

So we imagined what it might sound like if they said the quiet part out loud for once.

_{Content warning: this video includes real examples of blackmail and sextortion. Some viewers may find this distressing.}

Sextortion is increasingly affecting young men. In 2025, eSafety received more than 3,300 reports of sexual extortion.

• 86% of these were from males.
• 42% were from males aged 18-24 years.

Many blackmailers are skilled at building trust quickly and creating panic once threats begin. Young men can feel pressure to handle situations like this on their own, or feel embarrassed about what’s happened.

When things escalate quickly, it can be hard to know what to do next. Knowing the warning signs, understanding the reporting options available and having someone to reach out to for support can help in those moments.

How quickly do you think sextortion can happen?

Days? Weeks?

Often, it escalates far faster than people expect, sometimes in a matter of hours.

That’s because many blackmailers follow a deliberate and strategic pattern. They use tactics designed to build pressure and trigger panic before someone has time to stop, think clearly or ask for help.

When that speed is combined with fear and shame, the consequences can be very serious.

It can start anywhere people connect online.

In many cases, it begins with a fake profile, a follow request or a direct message, then quickly moves somewhere more private like an encrypted messaging app service.

Once threats begin, they may demand payment through bank transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards or other hard-to-trace methods.

The following tables show the breakdown of platforms that commonly appear in reports across different age groups.

_{*Based on reports to eSafety between 1 July and 30 December 2025 for all age groups reporting sexual extortion. Please note: Not all reports include specific platform, age or demographic data. Reports can reference multiple platforms.}

Sextortionists often try to make themselves seem real and trustworthy before the threats begin. This can include:

1. using nude images from previous victims and claiming they’re their own to quickly build trust and turn the conversation sexual
2. spoofing phone numbers so overseas calls or messages appear to come from an Australian +61 number
3. using bank accounts belonging to previous victims