Overview
The victim expects to share consensual, explicit images or engage in consensual, explicit video chats with a romantic interest online.
How It Works
The scammer poses as a romantic interest online, usually pretending to be a young woman seeking young men.
The scammer begins flirting and chatting with the target online, and eventually coaxes the victim to share explicit nudes.
As soon as the scammer has the explicit material, the scam changes to blackmail/extortion.
The blackmailer demands something of value (usually money but could also be data or accounts) and threatens to share the explicit material if the demand is not met.
Related Articles
Sextortion, FBI
Listed as a #2 most prevalent scam, FBI 2025 IC3 report released April 2026 report
Related Scams
5.3 Escort Or Sex Worker Scam: Also based on sexual content, leading to extortion
6.2 Underage Dating Accusation Scam: Also based on sexual content, leading to extortion
6.5 Webcam Video Scam: Also based on sexual content, leading to extortion
Related Crime Schemes
A particular instance of this scam may embed one or more of these related schemes.
Extortion: Extortion refers to any scheme that uses a threat of additional damage to extract payment from the victim.
Victim Targeting Context
The scammer may use one or more of the following techniques to initially reach the victim.
Targeted Conversational Approach: The scammer approaches the victim through targeted, topical online conversation.
Social Engineering: Psychological Manipulations
The scammer may use one or more of these psychological techniques to accomplish the scam.
Romance: The scammer promises love or friendship to victim.
Shame: The scammer tries to make the victim feel some shame or embarrassment in order to get them to go along with the scam.
Threats: The scammer employs threats to increase fear in the victim so that they will go along with the scam. Threats can include financial loss, legal action, arrest, account closure, extortion, blackmail.
Urgency: The scammer employs urgency to increase the likelihood that the victim will take action.
Social Engineering: Impersonation Techniques
The scammer may impersonate one or more of the following groups as part of the scam.
Catfishing: The perpetrator creates a fictitious online profile or persona.