Security News > 2021 > September > FBI: Spike in sextortion attacks cost victims $8 million this year
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center has warned of a massive increase in sextortion complaints since the start of 2021, resulting in total financial losses of more than $8 million until the end of July.
The federal agency received over 16,000 sextortion complaints until July 31, almost half of them coming from victims in the 20-39 age group.
"Victims over 60 years comprised the third largest reporting age group, while victims under the age of 20 reported the fewest number of complaints," the IC3 said.
Sextortion occurs when criminals threaten potential victims in person or via email, dating sites, and online chats that they will leak sensitive or private videos or photos unless a ransom is not paid.
As an email scam, sextortion was first seen in July 2018, when fraudsters started emailing targets claiming that they have them recorded on video while browsing adult sites, also including the victims' passwords to increase credibility.
"Most victims report the initial contact with the fraudster is mutual and made using dating websites and apps. Soon after the encounter, the fraudster requests the interaction be moved from the website or app to another messaging platform," the IC3 explained.