Danish police drop nearly 80% of sextortion cases

Nearly four out of five sextortion reports to Danish police are being closed without charges, according to figures from the Director of Public Prosecutions obtained by public broadcaster DR.

In 2025 alone, authorities received 2,078 reports mentioning sextortion—a 400% increase since 2019—yet 79% were dropped, matching the average dismissal rate over the past six years. The data emerges as part of DR’s documentary Jagten på sexafpresserne (The Hunt for Sextortionists), which examines the surge in cases where criminals coerce victims into paying money to prevent the release of intimate images.

Miriam Michaelsen, a lawyer with ReThink Law and chair of the Media Council for Children and Youth, called the dismissal rate unacceptable. “It’s painfully clear this must be a higher priority for Danish police,” she said. “The consequences for victims are severe and long-lasting.”

Investigators with Denmark’s National Unit for Special Crime (NSK) attribute the low prosecution rate to the cross-border nature of the crime. Kresten Munksgaard, head of the unit’s serious crime division, told DR that perpetrators often operate from countries where cooperation is difficult, including the Philippines, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria. “That makes it extremely hard for police to investigate,” he said. NSK declined DR’s request for an interview, referring instead to existing documentary footage, and did not specify which countries it currently collaborates with, though it confirmed efforts to improve ties with Thailand.

Last week, NSK warned boys and young men—who account for 97% of financially motivated sextortion victims—against sharing intimate images online. Criminals frequently pose as young women to solicit explicit material before demanding payment under threat of exposure. Michaelsen criticized the warning as misplaced, arguing it risks reinforcing victim-blaming. “This approach keeps the burden on victims, who already feel profound shame,” she said. “The message should be that help is available, not that they’re to blame.”

Andreas Mollerup, head of NSK’s National IT Crime Center, countered that prevention remains critical. “We continuously warn about emerging threats,” he said. “Prevention is the best way to spare people from becoming victims in the first place.” Despite the high dismissal rate, NSK urged victims to keep reporting incidents, noting that not all cases involve foreign perpetrators. Reports also help authorities track trends, issue public warnings, and push tech platforms to block abusive accounts.

Michaelsen called for stronger political action, including mandatory requirements for social media companies to remove sextortion profiles and share data with law enforcement. “Victims need to know they’re not alone,” she said. “Right now, too many feel reporting is pointless—or worse, that suicide is their only way out.”