'Sextortion' is a type of blackmail that involves coercion using sexual images or videos to extort money or sexual favors from the victim.
Terry Evans is the CEO of Cybersleuth Investigations, Inc. The company’s mission: “is to stop perpetrators from extorting our clients by identifying these individuals and organizations and interrupting their money stream, mitigating the impact of client exposure, and supporting clients throughout the crisis.”
“What typically happens is that someone is targeted, they sent pictures or compromising material — the sextortionists then says well guess what that’s not who I am… I want $5,000,” Evans said.
Evans is seeing perpetrators targeting men more often because it involves less of a time investment and provides a quick turn-around for the flow of money.
Evans says women generally require more time to establish trust and relationships.
“Men are often lured by a picture of an attractive woman and may be exploited in as little as 30 minutes,” Evan said.
He says male victims are almost exclusively targeted by teams of perpetrators operating overseas, beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement.
Evans says he is seeing more experienced perpetrators researching and targeting male victims based on their vulnerabilities and assets. Those targeted are usually in public positions and reputations within their communities.
“On a daily basis, millions of dollars flow from US victims to perpetrators operating in the Philippines, Nigeria, Algeria, Jamaica, and other locations worldwide,” Evan said.
Evans says online scams is a billion dollar industry, and there is more money made from online scams than there is from the drug trade.
