BTITV News recently visited the Revenge Porn Helpline at SWGfL to investigate the alarming increase in sextortion cases the Helpline has seen since 2021. Throughout the day, they witnessed firsthand the crucial support the Helpline provides to any adult affected by Sextortion in the UK.
You can watch the full ITV News Story about sextortion on YouTube, please be aware that some viewers may find this content distressing.
New Sextortion Data
As part of their visit, the ITV news team learned about the prevalence of sextortion in the UK and the rising cases of sextortion the Helpline saw in 2023. The figures demonstrate that sextortion continues to be one of the leading issues the Helpline supports, with the majority of cases affecting men.
ITV News got the opportunity to speak with Revenge Porn Helpline staff, including manager Sophie Mortimer and practitioners Izzy Petherick and Amanda Dashwood. Their conversations highlighted the significant harm that sextortion scammers are causing individuals.
Izzy Petherick shared a recent phone call she had taken by someone affected by sextortion, explaining to ITV News that she often supports university students affected by sextortion. In many of her cases, she reveals that individuals can lose thousands of pounds during their time at university, due to the extent of sextortion scams.
Sextortion Tactics
The latest data comes after the Revenge Porn Helpline 2022 report revealed changes in the approach being employed by sextortion scammers, with perpetrators often utilising a variety of different platforms to facilitate these crimes. Alongside this, the Helpline revealed that a rising number of sextortion scams were resulting in intimate images being circulated, making up approximately 20% of cases.
While discussing what to do if involved in a sextortion attempt, Amanda explained the importance of not sending any money to blackmailers and following the Helpline’s advice to stop all contact with the scammer, block them, and report them to the platform they are making threats on. Amanda highlights the importance of reaching out for support and the various ways the Helpline can support those affected by sextortion in the UK.
Criminal Gangs
In most cases of sextortion, the Revenge Porn Helpline has found that the crime is committed by organised criminal gangs based overseas, making it incredibly hard for UK law enforcement to find and prosecute them.
As Sophie Mortimer explains to ITV News, sextortion scammers work from call-centre-like environments, operating in a similar way to businesses. Mortimer emphasises that in many cases seen on the Helpline, scammers will frequently move on if individuals follow the Helpline’s advice and refuse to pay them any money.
Get Advice about Sextortion from the Revenge Porn Helpline
Reach out for support
If you have been affected by a sextortion scam, there is help available. The Revenge Porn Helpline provides a list of emotional support services you can reach out to. To access support or find out more about sextortion, visit the Helpline’s Sextortion Awareness Page.
Any adult affected by intimate image abuse in the UK can get in touch by calling 0345 6000 459 or by emailing help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm, excluding bank holidays. Adults across the globe can also access StopNCII.org, to protect their intimate images from being shared across partnering platforms.
To find out more information about intimate image abuse, visit the Revenge Porn Helpline website.
