The Guardian recently reported on the alarming increase in financially motivated sexual extortion, commonly referred to as “sextortion”. The victims of this crime are often teenage boys and young adult males who are tricked into sharing intimate images with a stranger, who then threatens to release the images unless a ransom is paid. Law enforcement agencies have identified loosely organized cyber-criminal gangs based overseas as the perpetrators of these crimes.
The devastating consequences of sextortion have been tragically highlighted by the fact that some young men in the UK, US, and Australia have taken their own lives after falling victim to this form of exploitation.
The Guardian is seeking to hear from individuals over the age of 18 who have been affected by this issue in order to better understand their experiences and how they coped. Respondents are invited to share their experiences while maintaining anonymity, as the Guardian guarantees that all contributions will be kept secure and used solely for the purpose of this feature.
Those interested in sharing their stories are encouraged to provide contact details, though they are not required to divulge extensive details upfront as a journalist will be in touch before any information is published. For those seeking full anonymity, the Guardian offers a SecureDrop service for submissions.
This press article serves as a call to action for individuals who have been impacted by sextortion to come forward and share their experiences in order to raise awareness and understanding of this troubling issue.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
