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Sextortion

Structure of This Page

What is Sextortion?

What is Sextortion?

Characteristics of Sextortion Blackmail

  • 1
    Intimate approach
  • 2
    Personal information theft
  • 3
    Indecent acts and video recording
  • 4
    Threat of Dissemination
  • 5
    Extortion of money
  • 1 Intimate Approach ① Intimate Approach

    • The perpetrator approaches through social media (Instagram, Facebook), chat apps, etc.

    • Builds trust early on through kind and favorable conversations

  • 2 Personal Information Theft ② Personal Information Theft

    • Obtains personal information such as personal social media accounts, contact details, and school information through conversation, and later uses it as leverage for blackmail

    • Induces the installation of a malicious app (APK file) under the guise of a ‘high-definition video viewing app’ before a video call

    • Steals the victim's address book, photos, videos, and account information from their phone through the hacking app

    • Or exchanges an Instagram account, follows the victim, and then secures their follower list

  • 3 Indecent Acts and Video Recording ③ Indecent Acts and Video Recording

    • Induces the victim to send sexual photos or perform indecent acts through a video call, and then records the actions on video

  • 4 Threat of Dissemination ④ Threat of Dissemination

    • After recording the video, perpetrators use previously harvested personal information (contact lists, follower lists, etc.) to threaten victims, saying things like "I will send this to your acquaintances" or "I will post this on social media."

    • Blackmail is a criminal method perpetrators use to extort money, so it is important to respond quickly and firmly at an early stage to minimize the harm.

    How to Cope with Blackmail

    • 1

      What is blackmail?

      Blackmail is a criminal act in which the offender uses words or actions that frighten the other person, applying psychological pressure to make them do what the offender wants.

    • 2

      Characteristics of Sextortion Blackmail

      • From the first contact to video recording, dissemination, blackmail, and demands for money, the entire sequence can unfold within minutes to a few hours.

      • Perpetrators threaten to disseminate the video and force a decision without giving time.

      • Real-time messages are used to instill fear and prevent sound judgment.

      • Perpetrators send blackmail messages specifying a date and time, creating psychological pressure.

    • 3

      How to Cope with Blackmail

      Because the perpetrator's messages are provocative, they increase psychological pressure, anxiety, and fear, impairing rational judgment and leading you to give in to the perpetrator's demands. Therefore, when blackmail begins, the very first thing to do is to avoid reading the perpetrator's messages and distance yourself from the provocative environment (e.g., block messages, turn off notifications, refuse to engage in conversation).

  • 5 Extortion of Money ⑤ Extortion of Money

    • The perpetrator may still disseminate the video even if you send money, and if you remit money, they will continuously demand larger amounts and blackmail you, so you must never send money

How to Cope

How to Cope

  • 1

    Never send money to the perpetrator and do not respond

    ① Do not send money; do not respond

    Sending money to the perpetrator does not end the dissemination threats; they may demand even more money. To minimize the harm, absolutely do not send money.

  • 2

    Once the perpetrator's blackmail begins, do not reply to their messages and block them

    ② Do not reply to messages; block them

    Turn off message notifications and set your phone to airplane mode so that you do not read or reply to messages.

  • 3

    If your phone is hacked, delete the malicious app and perform a factory reset

    ③ Delete the hacking app; reset the device

    To prevent further harm, delete the hacking app immediately after realizing you have been hacked, or back up important data and perform a factory reset on your phone.

  • 4

    Take measures so the perpetrator can no longer contact you

    ④ Block all contact from the perpetrator

    Change and delete all personal information exposed to the perpetrator, such as social media accounts, cloud accounts, and contact information, so that the perpetrator can no longer contact you.

  • 5

    Collect evidence of the harm and report it to the nearest police station

    ⑤ Collect evidence; report to the police

    A police report is not mandatory, but if the financial loss is substantial and the perpetrator's blackmail continues, you can report it to the police.

    How to report to the police

    • Police Civil Complaint Call (Police report inquiries) 182 without an area code

    • In-person report: Visit and file a report at the police station with jurisdiction near your residence

    • If an in-person report is difficult: Report through the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA)'s Electronic Cybercrime Report & Management system (ECRM) https://ecrm.police.go.kr
  • 6

    Send an advisory text message to your acquaintances

    ⑥ Send an Informative Text to Acquaintances

    If the video has been disseminated to your acquaintances or you are worried it will be disseminated, it is also a good idea to send a text message saying, ‘My phone has been hacked and I am being blackmailed, so do not open any messages or files sent by strangers.’

Organizations where you can get help

Organizations where you can get help

  • 1 Regional Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Center ① Regional Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Center
    https://www.stop.or.kr/home/kor/M856551654/support/network/index.do

    • Counseling support, investigative support, legal support, medical/recovery support, financial support (treatment costs, emergency living expenses, etc.)

  • 2 Women's Emergency Hotline 1366 ② Women's Emergency Hotline 1366

    • Call 1366 without an area code or search for ‘Cyber Counseling for Violence Against Women’ on KakaoTalk

    • Counseling available 24/7, 365 days a year, can be linked to Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Centers nationwide

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