Getting blackmailed over nonexistent nudes? On Skeptical Sunday, Nick Pell untangles the dark web of sextortion and why kids face the greatest danger.

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

The basic sextortion scam is just sophisticated phishing. Those alarming emails claiming to have compromising footage of you? Pure fiction. These scammers cast wide nets, sending millions of messages hoping a tiny percentage will bite. They typically have basic information (your name, email, maybe your address) purchased from dark web data brokers, but nothing actually incriminating. The golden rule: if they don't show you the evidence, it doesn't exist.
Children face genuine sextortion risks online. While adults receive empty threats, children encounter a far more dangerous reality. Predators create fake profiles mimicking peers, establish trust, and eventually manipulate children into sharing compromising images. Once obtained, these images become leverage for extorting money, demanding more explicit content, or worse — attempting to arrange in-person meetings. It's a digital trap baited with false friendship.
Modern kids are safer outside but more vulnerable online. We've bubble-wrapped the physical world for children with public awareness campaigns, enhanced security measures, and helicopter parenting. Yet ironically, we hand these same protected children devices that connect them directly to potential predators. The statistics are alarming: 40% of surveyed kids reported someone attempting to groom them online, and 6% of children aged 9-12 have sent self-generated sexual content.
Victims often remain silent due to shame and fear. The humiliation of falling for scams creates a powerful silencing effect. As Nick candidly shared about his own experience with cryptocurrency scammers: "It's not about the money. Losing the money sucks, don't get me wrong. But it's so humiliating." This shame multiplies exponentially with sexual content, especially for adolescents already navigating identity and social acceptance. A staggering 82% of young victims report being too scared to seek help.
Open communication creates crucial safety nets. The most powerful protection isn't restrictive software or monitoring apps — it's creating an environment where kids know they can come to you without judgment if they make mistakes online. Make it crystal clear: "If you ever get into trouble online, I'm here for you, I'll support you, and you won't be punished because someone manipulated or tricked you." This simple assurance can be the emergency exit that leads vulnerable young people to seek help rather than spiraling deeper into exploitation. Having this conversation today could save your child from becoming a statistic tomorrow.
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