An online nude photo scam is ensnaring thousands of teen boys and causing emotional trauma.

Scammers posing as teen girls befriend boys online, share nude photos of a girl and then ask for nude photos in return. Once the boy reciprocates, the schemer demands money to be sent by a peer-to-peer payment app and threatens to share the boy’s photos with his social-media followers if he doesn’t pay.

Scammers typically try to get photos via Snapchat, since its disappearing messages leave less of a trail, law-enforcement officials say.

Financial sextortion made international news in 2022 when 17-year-old Jordan DeMay died by suicide after being targeted by scammers in West Africa.

According to the indictment, the men allegedly purchased hacked social media accounts belonging to real teenage girls and lured teenagers into sexual conversations.

For a grim read about some of the lengths and depths these scammers will resort to, there is a Washington Post article.

What to do if a child shares photos:

• DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY! If you do, the scammers will come back for more.
• If you’re in Western Australia, contact WA ScamNet at Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or Crimestoppers WA on 1800 333 000 to seek help. For other states:
  • Australian Capital Territory: Access Canberra
  • New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading
  • Northern Territory NT Consumer Affairs
  • Queensland Office of Fair Trading Queensland
  • South Australia SA Office of Consumer and Business Services (CBS)
  • Tasmania Tasmania Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)
  • Victoria Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)
• If the video or photographs are uploaded/posted on sites such as Facebook or YouTube, report them immediately to the administrators by flagging them as inappropriate. They should be taken down quickly.
• Take note of profile names as these will also need to be reported to the social media platform administrators.
• Block the scammer and delete them from your friends’ list on social media. Do the same if they have your email address or mobile phone number.
• Deactivate social media accounts for at least two weeks so the scammers will think you have deleted your accounts.
• If you meet someone online, avoid letting them have intimate photos or videos. Even if they are not a scammer, there are still risks.
• Parents should discuss cyber safety with their children and ensure proper parental controls are in place.
• Blackmail attempts involving intimate images of anyone under the age of 16 should be reported to the Child Abuse Squad via Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
• More information about scams is available on the WA ScamNet website where online scam reports can be lodged and enquiries can be made by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or phone 1300 30 40 54.
• Source: WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety