Reports of sextortion to the Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) have seen a significant decrease for the first time since the crime emerged in 2022. However, there are ongoing concerns that too many victims are still being blackmailed.
In the first half of 2024, the ACCCE received 560 reports of sextortion, averaging 93 reports per month, a sharp decline from the 300 monthly reports seen throughout 2023.
The AFP is releasing these new figures during National Child Protection Week to underscore the effectiveness of combined efforts by law enforcement and the community in raising awareness about sextortion and combating online predators.
Since 2022, the AFP and AUSTRAC, in collaboration with the financial sector, have been instrumental in closing down Australian bank accounts linked to international organised crime syndicates involved in sextortion. Operation Huntsman has successfully shut down over 1,800 Australian bank, financial services, and digital currency accounts connected to offshore criminals exploiting Australian teenagers.
AFP Commander of Human Exploitation, Helen Schneider, noted that the decrease in reports is likely due to a combination of increased public awareness, particularly among parents and young people, and the AFP’s close work with partners like AUSTRAC.
“Increased public awareness, especially among parents and young people, combined with our work with partners like AUSTRAC, is likely making it harder for criminals to exploit children online,” Commander Schneider said.
“Our collaboration with AUSTRAC and financial institutions has made Australia a hostile environment for organised criminals attempting to profit from the sextortion of our young people. Our intelligence suggests we have been effective, as organised criminals are frequently complaining to each other online about the difficulty of extracting money from young Australians.”
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where offenders trick or coerce individuals into sending sexual images, then threaten to share the images unless their demands are met. These demands often involve money, gift cards, or more explicit content.
Despite the positive trend, Commander Schneider stressed that the AFP-led ACCCE remains committed to fighting this crime.
“Although reports have dropped, sextortion is still an underreported crime, and the sad reality is that we continue to receive almost 100 reports of children in Australia being targeted by criminals every month,” she said. “The AFP will continue to make Australia a hostile environment for those who seek to exploit our children, not just during National Child Protection Week, but every week.”
AUSTRAC Acting National Manager, Law Enforcement & Industry, Anthony Helmond, echoed these concerns, highlighting the disturbing nature of the crime.
“Access to the internet and the ease of online financial transactions have made vulnerable groups worldwide easy targets for criminals,” Mr. Helmond said. “As Australia’s financial intelligence unit, AUSTRAC is uniquely positioned to identify suspicious financial transactions and share that critical data with our law enforcement partners.”
“By pooling our intelligence and capabilities, we can identify and combat criminals targeting young Australians through sextortion. Our collaboration with industry has resulted in the closure of numerous accounts linked to offshore criminals seeking to sexually extort Australians. Government and industry are working closely together to keep the community safe from this insidious crime.”
Parents and carers are urged to watch for warning signs that a child might be a victim of sextortion. These signs include unsolicited friend requests, sudden sexualised conversations, and requests to continue chatting on different apps.
For those who suspect they are victims or know someone who is, the AFP advises stopping communication, taking screenshots, blocking the account, and reporting the crime to the ACCCE. Victims are also encouraged to seek support from trusted individuals or professional services.
If there are immediate safety concerns, individuals are urged to dial 000 or contact their local police station.
The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed resources to help the community identify and respond to sextortion. The online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit, aimed at young people aged 13-17, is available on the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites.
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