Sometimes, behind the attractive profile pictures and flirty messages are criminals looking to blackmail you into sending them money. They’ll use fake personas to befriend you and gain your trust. Then, they’ll lure you into sending them explicit pictures and videos of yourself. Finally, they’ll threaten to publish these images online, or send them to your friends and family if you don’t send them money. This is sextortion, and it is a form of blackmail. It can be committed by individuals, but organised crime gangs are usually behind it. They often find their victims through social media and dating apps. Be switched on to the dangers of sextortion when you’re online – if somebody seems too good to be true, they probably are. To avoid falling victim to sextortion, do the following: • Set all your social media accounts to private. • Do not send compromising or explicit images of yourself to anyone. • On social media or dating platforms, be wary of users who try to move the conversation to another platform very quickly. • Be wary of new online connections who send you unsolicited sexual images that they claim are pictures of themselves. Criminals often use this tactic to guide the conversation in a sexual direction and lower the victim’s guard. What to do if you've been targeted: • Don’t panic - help and support is available. • Don’t pay. • Save the evidence: Take screenshots. Save messages and images. Collect URL links to where the information is being shared online. • Report it to social media companies if communication happened on these channels. For example, Facebook or Instagram. • Report it to your internet service provider. • Block all communication with the person targeting you. • Most social media sites have rules against sharing intimate content without consent. You should be able to get the material removed. We understand that it might be difficult to report this type of crime to us. Our officers are here to listen and to support you in any way we can. You can report intimate image abuse to us by calling 101, or by reporting it online through our 101 Live Chat www.durham.police.uk/Report-It/101-Live-Chat/101-Live-Chat.aspx For more advice and support, visit www.durham.police.uk/Advice-Centre/Online-Safety/Sextortion.aspx