sextortion

noun

sex·tor·tion ˌsek-ˈstȯr-shən

: extortion in which a perpetrator threatens to expose sexually compromising information (such as sexually explicit private images or videos of the victim) unless the victim meets certain demands

Sextortion is when an online predator tricks someone into giving them nude images or videos, and then demands money, more images, or makes other demands—threatening to share the images with the victim's friends and family if they don't comply.—

bradfordtoday.ca

Sextortion is a crime that is now sweeping the web, from organized criminal groups operating overseas to cyber-bullies at the local high school.—

The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California)

Two male high school students in an Allegan County school district were recent victims of sextortion—a form of online sexual exploitation that typically occurs against kids ages 10-17.—

Sherri Kolade

Deling used text messages and social media platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kik and Skype, in the sextortion scheme against girls between the ages of 11 and 17, prosecutors say.—

Chacour Koop

Examples of sextortion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Instagram will test a new feature that blurs nudity in messages in an effort to curb sextortion on its platform. —

Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Apr. 2024 More than 13,000 reports of financial sextortion and 12,600 victims were confirmed during this time. —

The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024 Wilson is currently serving a 30-month sentence for sextortion schemes, as well as his role in the drinks-throwing ‘Slushygate’ scandal. —

Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 11 Jan. 2024 Websites or apps that include chatting features can leave room for sextortion, such as Snapchat, Instagram or Discord. —

The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024 Offenders using sextortion for financial gain often request gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or money via mobile payment services. —

The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024 From October 2021 through March 2023, the FBI tracked roughly 12,600 sextortion victims — all of them minors. —

Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2024 In 2022, law enforcement agencies received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys. —

Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2024 Guffey says at least one or two families whose children have been victims of sextortion reach out to him daily. —

Faith Karimi, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sextortion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.