Reports of sextortion to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) have dropped significantly for the first time since the crime emerged in 2022, however concern remains that too many victims are being blackmailed.
In the first six months of 2024, the ACCCE received 560 reports of sextortion, an average of 93 reports a month, compared to an average of 300 reports a month in the 2023 calendar year.
The AFP is releasing new figures this National Child Protection Week to highlight the effectiveness of the combined efforts of law enforcement and the community to raise awareness about sextortion and take the fight to online predators.
Since 2022, the AFP and AUSTRAC, working with the financial sector, have facilitated the closure of bank accounts that are held in Australia but are linked to international organised crime syndicates involved in sextortion.
More than 1800 Australian bank, financial services and digital currency accounts linked to offshore organised criminals sexually extorting Australian teenagers have been shut down under Operation Huntsman.
AFP Commander Human Exploitation Helen Schneider said police believed a combination of factors had contributed to the decrease in reports.
"Increased public awareness, especially of parents and young people themselves, combined with the AFP's work with partners like AUSTRAC are likely making it harder for criminals to exploit children online," Commander Schneider said.
"We have worked closely with AUSTRAC and financial institutions to make Australia a hostile environment for organised criminals attempting to profit from the sextortion of our young people.
"Our intelligence indicates how effective we have been, with organised criminals regularly complaining to each other online about how difficult it is to extract money from young people in Australia."
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where offenders trick or coerce someone into sending sexual images of themselves, before threatening to share the images unless their demands are met. These demands could be for money, gift cards or more graphic content.
Commander Schneider welcomed the trend of reduced sextortion reports but said the AFP-led ACCCE remained committed to fighting the crime type.
"Although the reports have dropped, this is still an under reported crime and the sad reality is that we still receiving almost 100 reports of children in Australia being targeted by criminals every month," Commander Schneider said.
"That is why the AFP will continue to make Australia a hostile environment for those who seek to exploit our children, during National Child Protection Week and every week."
AUSTRAC Acting National Manager, Law Enforcement & Industry, Anthony Helmond said it was disturbing that Australian children were being exploited in this way.
"Access to the internet and the ease of online financial transactions have put vulnerable groups worldwide within easy reach of criminals," Mr Helmond said.
"As Australia's financial intelligence unit, AUSTRAC is uniquely placed to identify suspicious financial transactions and share that crucial data with our law enforcement partners.
"By pooling our intelligence and capabilities, we're able to identify and fight criminals who are targeting young Australians through sextortion.
"AUSTRAC's ability to follow money trails and our collaboration with industry has resulted in the closure of numerous accounts that were supporting offshore organised criminals seeking to sexually extort Australians. Government and industry are working closely together to keep the community safe by tackling this insidious crime."
Warning signs for parents and carers that a child might be the victim of sextortion:
- Unsolicited friend or follow requests or random adds from people your child doesn't know;
- Sudden sexualised questions or conversation;
- Instantly receiving sexual images from a profile which asks for the same from the child;
- Getting a direct message on one app, then being asked to continue chatting on a different app;
- Signs that English may be a second language of the person sending the messages;
- The fake profile might say that their webcam or microphone are not working for video calls/chats to confirm their identity; and
- The fake profile says that they promise to delete your content.
If you think you are a victim or know of someone who is a victim of sextortion:
- DO stop the chat;
- DO take screen shots of the text and profile;
- DO block the account and report it to the platform;
- DO get support from a trusted friend or family member, or professional support services and seek mental health support if required. Kids Helpline offers free and confidential sessions with counsellors;
- DO report the crime to the ACCCE;
- DON'T send more images or pay as this will lead to more demands;
- DON'T respond to demands;
- DON'T enter into further communication; and
- DON'T think you are alone.
If you're concerned about your or someone else's safety, dial 000 or contact your local police station immediately.
The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed a resource to help the community identify sextortion and how to get help. The online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people aged 13 -17 is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping online child sexual exploitation, and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
