Message from the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of Hong Kong Police Force

Issue 35: 8/9/2023

Dear parents,

In recent years, a culture of “sexting” has emerged among teenagers and couples. When being accustomed to conveying sexually suggestive messages through texts or selfies, there is a chance that they get naked in front of camera during video chats, hence falling prey to naked chat blackmail. In this issue, we will explore the methods used by sextortionists and provide relevant crime prevention advice.

Sextortionists typically disguise as beautiful women or good-looking men on social media or dating platforms to approach victims, enticing into naked chat then with the entire
process recorded. Victims may first be lured to download malicious software that steals the phone contacts before explicit conversations. Subsequently, the scammers threaten to publish the victims’ explicit content online or forward it to their friends and family, thereby extorting gift cards, points cards, or demanding transfers. In the first half of this year, a total of 833 naked chat blackmail cases were reported in Hong Kong, with 90% of the victims being male. 170 victims (20%) are students in which the youngest was just aged 11. In June, a Form 1 student met a foreign girl on a social platform, then exchanged nude photos after a brief chat. The scammer immediately threatened to spread the photos widely. Being frightened, the student complied to
purchase gift cards worth some one thousand dollars and sent the serial numbers to the scammer. The incident was uncovered upon the student’s parents noticing his unusual
behavior. Sextortion can bring a profound and long-lasting impact on victims. In addition to financial losses and psychological harm, if the explicit images are uploaded online, they may
remain available for good. Here are some tips for you:

Regardless of adults or teenagers, it is important to safeguard privacy in the cyber world to prevent exploitation by criminals. For more information on online safety and enhancing your child’s ability to differentiate cyber traps, please visit CyberDefender website (https://CyberDefender.hk) or download the Scameter+ mobile app.

Let’s join hands to safeguard our next generation!

Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau Hong Kong Police Force

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