Eastern Finland police warn of online sexual blackmail

Eastern Finland Police have received more than 10 reports this summer of blackmail cases in which victims were threatened with the release of sensitive videos or images, Yle reports.

The victims were lured into video calls involving sex or persuaded to send sensitive images of themselves. Detective Inspector Jussi Salomaa said the victims ranged in age from 17 to over 50, and most were men.

The blackmailers threatened to send the videos or images to the victims’ parents or social media followers. Police do not know whether the threats were carried out.

Payments were demanded in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency or through various international payment services. Some victims paid, allowing police to track where the money went. Salomaa said cryptocurrency had been sent at least to Nigeria, where it was exchanged for local currency. The use of English as the main language of communication also points to foreign perpetrators, he said.

According to police, the conversations began on social media or messaging applications and quickly moved to personal or sexual topics. Victims were then encouraged to join a video call or send nude images. The criminal recorded the call or saved the images and began blackmailing the victim soon afterwards.

Some victims have also reported that criminals used artificial intelligence to alter images, adding nudity or other sensitive content.

Police advise victims to end contact with the blackmailer, not to pay, report the matter to the police and block the blackmailer’s messages. Young people are encouraged to tell a trusted adult. All possible evidence, including messages, usernames and payment demands, should be preserved.

Police said that nude images and videos of anyone under 18 constitute material depicting child sexual abuse. Material that reaches the internet is extremely difficult to remove permanently, and police urged people to be particularly cautious when sending images or videos, even if the recipient appears trustworthy.

Salomaa estimated that police learn about only a fraction of blackmail cases because not everyone feels able to report matters involving sexuality.