Online Sextortion: What You Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself
Online sextortion is a cybercrime where scammers blackmail victims using private or intimate content. It is punishable under IPC and IT Act provisions. Online sextortion happens when a scammer threatens to post your private and sensitive information online if you don’t provide them with money, sexually suggestive photographs, or sexual favours. In addition, if you don’t agree with their demands, the criminal may use information they have stolen from technological devices to threaten to damage your friends or family. Online Sextortion is a form of online abuse where a Online sextortion for cybercriminal uses social media, online dating apps, instant messaging apps, SMS, and porn websites, among other platforms, to trick users into participating in private audio or video conversations and coerce them into providing revealing images or posing nude. The con artists then utilize these resources to threaten, embarrass, harass, blackmail, and exploit the victims. Dangers Abuse and Exploitation Harassment Blackmail Threats of public humiliation Mental distress Modus Operandi The scammers utilize a variety of tactics to try to trick people into disclosing private information. posting messages for video/audio chat using fake accounts/profiles creating pages/ad campaigns The users get victimized when they pay for such services and pose nude or in a compromising position in video calls accepts or sends friend requests to the fake account/profile and is involved in intimate interaction posing nude in video chats, sending revealing pictures, etc., The scammer films video snaps screenshots, takes images, uses exposing images, or alters the given photos. The victim is blackmailed by the scammer, which leads to online sextortion. The users of porn sites may also fall prey to online sextortion when their chats/video calls on porn sites are used for blackmail by fraudsters. Channels used for trapping the victims into online sextortion The scammers use the above-mentioned method of operation to resort to online sextortion through a variety of avenues, such as Messaging apps Dating apps Social media platforms Porn sites etc., Warning signs indicate attempts of online sextortion by cybercriminals Repeated untoward messages/video calls from unknown number/s Repeated friend requests from an unknown person Repeated requests for private intimate pictures, video chats, photos Manipulating or redirecting the conversation toward intimate topics Rush through the things and try to develop intimacy Warning signs that may indicate victimization Signs of fear, nervousness, anxiety, depression Isolating self and being very reactive & emotional Feeling desperate and frustrated Having suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviour. Safety tips to protect yourself against online sextortion Never share any compromising images, posts, or videos of yourself with anyone, no matter who they are Remember that the internet never forgets or forgives. Whatever you share once will always be there on the Internet in one form or another. Never accept or request friendship from unknown people on social media platforms. Turn on security and privacy options for your instant messaging apps and social media accounts. Use the “Report User” option on social media platforms to report any such Do not share your personal/private pictures publicly. When not in use, turn off your webcams and electrical devices. Use two-factor authentication with strong passwords and different passwords for different social media accounts. During an online interaction or chat, if the person on the other side is trying to rush through things and develop intimacy, then it is cause for alarm. Never let anyone use a device to record any intimate behaviour or private portion, no matter how close they are. Such data can be misused at a later stage. Never open attachments or answer video calls from strangers. Save the evidence and the screenshots for referring to the incident later. You are not alone, so don’t suffer in silence. Instead, ask for support from dependable friends and family. File a complaint against sextortion online or at your nearest cybercrime cell. Remember that you can also anonymously file an online complaint against such an offence on the national cybercrime reporting portal cybercrime.gov.in. Avoid taking private, nude, or semi-nude pictures or films using your phone as they could embarrass you if they are leaked. Several rouge mobile apps could access your gallery/storage and can be used to blackmail you. Don’t hesitate to file a complaint or contact the police due to shame, embarrassment, and self-blame. Know what the Law Says about this offence? It is a punishable offence by law and attracts sections 354 (D), 506 / 507, 509 IPC, and 384 IPC, and Sec.67 of the IT Act is also applicable. Criminals who commit such crimes typically profit from the victim’s silence and the ambiguity of the law. Everyone must therefore be aware of the portions and codes that will be useful to them in these situations. Criminal Procedure Code Section 108(1)(i)(a) enables the victim to contact the local magistrate and report the individual she feels may be spreading any pornographic material. The magistrate can arrest such a person or people and require them to sign a bond to prevent them from sharing the content. This might deter the accused. This is a quick remedial section because the victim can complain to the magistrate without any direct evidence against the accused. The Indian Penal Code’s (IPC) Section 292 incriminates anyone who uses apps or other social media to disseminate or threaten to distribute any compromising or intimate photos of another person. If a picture of the woman is clicked obscenely without her knowledge and is distributed, a voyeurism case under Section 354C of the IPC can also be filed along with the assistance of other pertinent Information Technology Act parts.