Sextortion

English version below 


Evan Boettler, ġuvni ta’ sittax-il sena, safa vittma ta’ sextortion. Darba minnhom irċieva dan il-messaġġ tal-biża’: “I have your nudes and everything needed to ruin your life.” Traġikament, f’anqas minn sagħtejn Evan ikkommetta suwiċidju.

Xi tfisser sextortion?

Sextortion huwa rikatt online: xi ħadd juża stampi intimi tiegħek — reali jew fake —u jheddek li se jxerridhom ma’ ħbiebek u qrabatek, jekk inti ma tibgħatlux il-flus. Ħafna drabi, l-iscammer l-ewwel jistabbilixxi relazzjoni qarrieqa—billi jippretendi li għandu interess romantiku jew ħbiberija—biex jirbaħ il-fiduċja tiegħek qabel ma jibda jheddek.

Tliet passi biex tipproteġi lilek innifsek:
  1. Qatt u qatt m’għandek tixxerja ritratti intimi — lanqas mal-boyfriend jew girlfriend. Ftakar li hekk kif tibgħat ritratt, inti tlift il-kontroll fuqu, u ma tistax tgħid fejn se jispiċċa.
  2. Kun xettiku dwar kuntatti online: L-iscammers jużaw profili foloz biex iqarrqu bil-vittmi. Julia, il-friend minn Manchester li ltqajt magħha online, fil-fatt jista’ jkun raġel f’Lagos, in-Niġerja. Tkunx mazzun!
  3. Jekk tirċievi xi theddida, tħallas xejn! Jekk tibgħat xi flus turi kemm inti dgħajjef. Tippanikkjax. Tħassar xejn. Issejvja l-evidenza (ħu screenshots ta’ kollox); imblokka l-persuna; u kellem lill-ġenituri jew adult li tafdah. Bl-għajnuna tagħhom irrapporta lill-pulizija.
Moħħok hemm biex ma taqax fin-nassa!

Kelma lill-Ġenituri

Jekk inti ġenitur, iddiskuti dan is-suġġet m’uliedek adolexxenti illum. Din il-konversazzjoni hija l-aħjar difiża għalihom biex ma jispiċċawx fil-mira u jsofru konsegwenzi tal-biża’.

Żomm komunikazzjoni miftuħa magħhom sabiex iħossuhom komdi jiġu għandek għall-għajnuna, kemm jekk tkun xi forma ta’ theddida online, jew tkun xi tkun. Għidilhom li jekk isibu ruħhom f’xi problema jew periklu, l-interess waħdieni tiegħek huwa li tgħinhom u mhux li ċċanfarhom.

English Version

"I have your nudes and everything needed to ruin your life."

Sixteen-year-old Evan Boettler became a victim of a sextortion scam after receiving this horrifying message. Tragically, within 90 minutes of the initial contact, Evan took his own life—a devastating example of how quickly these online threats can become deadly.

What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is a serious form of blackmail in which someone uses real or fake intimate images to threaten you. They may demand money, more explicit photos, or try to gain control over you. Often, the scammer will first establish a deceptive relationship—pretending to be a romantic interest or a friend—to build trust before initiating the threat.

4 Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Children

Discuss this with your teens today. This conversation is their best defense against being targeted and suffering the devastating consequences.
  1. NEVER Share Private Images: Even with a partner or someone you feel you can trust completely. Once an image is shared, you lose all control over where it goes.
  2. Be Skeptical of Strangers Online: People often use fake profiles to trick victims. If a new connection is pressuring you to move to a different app or share personal details, stop and block them immediately.
  3. If Threatened, DO NOT PAY: Paying a blackmailer rarely makes the problem go away—it often confirms you are an easy target. Do not panic and do not delete anything.
  4. Save Evidence & Report Immediately: If you are targeted, take screenshots of everything, block the person, and report it to your parents or a trusted adult and to the police.
Stay smart, stay safe, and have this critical conversation today.

Keep communication open so your children know they can always come to you for help. Assure them that your response will be to help them, not to judge. Predators thrive on fear, and the longer the abuse continues, the worse the harm. If a child confides in you, comfort them, explain that what happened is a crime, and help them report it to the authorities. 

Besides reporting the crime, make sure your child gets professional counseling or therapy to help them heal from the trauma.