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Tom Muleya Fraud Insight
Our cultural environment and social fibre has been greatly manipulated by technology and greed over the past few decades.
Unsuspecting victims who are perhaps not aware about the dangers in cyber space are falling victim to various scams such as sextortion.
The internet has connected kids to the world, and parents do not know who in the world is connecting and communicating to their kids.
In the previous instalment, we looked at how the internet has become a tool to seek romantic and sexual partners, and how many people who are turning to the internet to find love and partners, particularly women are falling victim to online dating scams.
Some have been duped of their money. Closely related to online dating frauds is sextortion scams, that is mainly targeted at minors.
Although sextortion does not necessarily involve fraudulent activities, it is a type of cybercrime and worth talking about it, as many kids in this country are connected to internet and stand a chance be victimised.
Sextortion is a criminal act and a form of sexual exploitation which involves coercing minors using, or threatening to use images or videos previously obtained to demand additional images or videos that are sexual in nature.
In other words, sextortion is online sexual exploitation of minors. Sextortion is a global problem and poses a great threat to minors, hence need to stop sextortion and protect children.
A case example is that of Richard Finkbiner, 46, of Brazil, Indiana who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for production of child pornography.
He used fake personas on social media and web based platforms to exploit numerous minors by inducing them to send him sexually explicit images and videos.
Sextortion happens in a number of ways and the following are some of the ways;
- Threats of harm to family or friends unless the victim complies with demands.
- Misleading the victim to believe the perpetrator can be trusted.
- Use of non-graphic images to escalate to more sexually graphic images.
- Hacking to assume control of a victim’s computer to gain access or control the computer’s webcom to obtain images and videos.
To avoid, prevent or protect kids from sextortion, parents and guardians should consider the following measures;
- Advise kids to practice principles of cyber security. When they go on the internet or online, they are high chances of them meeting and communicating with strangers, so they should practise cyber security, avoiding any behaviour that sextortionists may take advantage of.
- Educate your children on computer applications, internet websites, and online forums kids use.
- Regularly supervise your children or kids’ internet related activities. Warn against risky behaviours which include sending images or videos or comments on the internet. This information or material may be used by criminals for sextortion.
- Encourage kids to talk to someone they trust, such as parent, teacher, and coach or school counsellor.
- Encourage kids to report any suspected sextortion to the police to minimise further victimisation and possible early identification and arrest of offenders.
Participate in the fight against fraud and cybercrimes. Think cyber security. Watch out for the next issue for cyber scams.
Tom Muleya is a Detective Assistant Inspector working under the CID Commercial Crimes Division. He is also a member of the National Cyber Security Awareness Taskforce, Zimbabwe. Feedback: 0772 764 043, or e-mail:[email protected].
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