A 60-year-old man from the Gifhorn district in Germany was extorted over a nude photo. The perpetrator demanded 5,000 euros to refrain from posting the image online, the police said. In an effort to pressure him further, the extortionist even offered an installment plan.
Because the victim did not agree to the demand, the offender gradually lowered the requested amount. The 60-year-old did not pay and reported the case to the police. The contact in the fraud and extortion scheme, the so-called sextortion, originated on social media platforms.
The current case is being used by the police to provide tips on protecting against sextortion.
The officers advise:
Be cautious about contact requests from strangers on social networks
Do not share personal information such as your address, phone number, or employer
Do not send intimate photos or videos to people you only know online
Use devices with up-to-date security and antivirus programs
Openly educate young people about potential online dangers
Victims should:
Do not pay any money
Secure evidence such as screenshots of chat conversations
Terminate contact
Contact the police and file a report
In the present case, the apparently heterosexual man was approached by an alleged woman on TikTok, according to the police. At first, the two talked about everyday topics. Later, the chat partner suggested continuing the conversation via the messaging service WhatsApp, and the man agreed to this.
The next day, the chat became increasingly flirtatious. The supposed woman eventually sent a nude image and urged the 60-year-old to also send a comparable photo of himself. After he complied, the extortionist suddenly appeared — and said that the woman had never existed.
