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APRIL 07, 2023


Alert Number



I-040723-PSA

Questions regarding this PSA should be directed to your local FBI Field Office.

Local Field Office Locations: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices


FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES CHARGING SEXTORTION VICTIMS FOR ASSISTANCE AND USING
DECEPTIVE TACTICS TO ELICIT PAYMENTS

The FBI is warning the public of for—profit companies offering sextortion
victims “assistance” services. These companies charge exorbitant fees, whereas
law enforcement and non-profit agencies will provide assistance at no charge to
victims.

The companies use deceptive tactics—including threats, manipulation, and
providing false information—to coerce sextortion victims into paying for their
services. Some of the services for which the companies charge fees, such as
sending the perpetrators cease and desist orders, make victims feel better but
are not legally enforceable. The companies may also attempt to discourage
victims from reporting the sextortion to law enforcement. Limited reporting
indicates the companies are directly or indirectly involved in the sextortion
activity.

Some examples of these deceptive tactics include the following.

 * A company solicited multiple payments totaling $5,000 from a juvenile
   sextortion victim after coercing the victim with threats of reputational
   harm, falsely indicating the victim would be unable to go to college or get a
   job and the victim’s parents would lose their jobs. The victim contacted the
   company for help after being sextorted via social media.
 * A juvenile sextortion victim contacted and hired a company for $2,000. When
   the victim declined to pay for additional services, the company told the
   victim the sextortion perpetrator asked for $5,000. At that point, the victim
   paid for the additional services, for which the company charged him an
   additional $3,200.
 * A company representative contacted the mother of a juvenile sextortion victim
   and offered to locate the sextortionist in exchange for $1,500. The
   representative also discouraged the victim’s mother from seeking assistance
   from law enforcement. It was not clear how the company representative knew
   about the sextortion or how they obtained the contact information for the
   victim’s mother.


HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ASSISTANCE SCAMS

The FBI recommends sextortion victims contact law enforcement and non-profit
agencies who assist sextortion victims at no charge. For-profit companies can
take advantage of victims’ desperation for assistance and potential feelings of
fear or shame that may result from the sextortion. Indicators to watch for
include:

 * A company representative contacts you and offers assistance services for
   which the company charges fees;
 * The company advertises sextortion assistance in exchange for fees;
 * You are asked to pay the fees before the assistance services are rendered;
 * The company requires you to sign a contract for their services;
 * The company representative discourages you from contacting law enforcement or
   tells you contacting law enforcement is not the best way to get help;
 * The company uses high-pressure or scare tactics in an effort to secure your
   business; or
 * The for-profit company claims to be connected to government or law
   enforcement officials.


REPORTING SEXTORTION

If an individual is the victim of sextortion, it can be reported to the
appropriate authorities through any of the following:

 * Submit a tip to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at
   www.ic3.gov;
 * Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324);
 * Contact your local FBI field office or closest international office (contact
   information can be found at www.fbi.gov); or
 * Call or submit a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited
   Children (NCMEC) via 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) or CyberTipline.org. NCMEC can
   help with requesting removal of the victim’s images from websites. In
   addition, you can learn more about sextortion and resources by visiting
   www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion.

You can find more information at
fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.