Western Uusimaa police warn of online blackmail of minors with sexual images

Western Uusimaa police are investigating at least two cases where boys under 15 have been blackmailed online using sexual images, the force said in a statement.

In one case, an individual hiding behind a pseudonym approached a boy under 15 on a social media platform. When the conversation moved to another platform, the suspect pressured the boy to send sexually explicit images. After the boy sent a few, the suspect demanded money, threatening to distribute the images if unpaid.

The boy sent some money, but the amount was insufficient. When the suspect demanded more, the boy confided in a close contact, who then filed a police report.

Police are probing a second, similar case in the region, also involving a boy under 15. Both cases are being investigated under charges of sexual violation of a child and blackmail.

Such incidents are not isolated, according to police, who noted they periodically receive reports of this nature. Authorities urge guardians to understand how children can become targets of criminal activity online.

In these cases, perpetrators may first build trust with the child over time. Requests for sexually explicit images may be framed as a challenge, with blackmail beginning afterward. Police have compiled guidelines for guardians to help prevent online sexual violence against children.