sextortion

[seks-tawr-shuhn]

noun

1. criminal behavior in which a perpetrator illicitly obtains sexually compromising material, such as images, and then threatens to publish it or harm the victim in other ways unless further material or a sum of money is surrendered.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sextortion¹

First recorded in 1945–50; sex ¹ ( def. ) + (ex)tortion ( def. )

Example Sentences

The operation, co-ordinated by Interpol and funded by the UK, targeted criminal networks using social media and digital platforms to extract money from victims in romance scams, and in so-called "sextortion", in which victims are blackmailed using explicit imagery.

From BBC

"Cyber-crime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams," said Cyril Gout, the acting executive director of police services at Interpol.

From BBC

Last year, Instagram owner, Meta, removed thousands of accounts in Nigeria that were trying to target people in online sextortion schemes.

From BBC

The risk of sextortion, especially among young people, is a growing problem, child advocates say.

From Los Angeles Times

Roughly 1 in 5 teenagers experienced sextortion, according to a report from Thorn, a child safety nonprofit.

From Los Angeles Times