Incipient's blog

Warning from an Irish Law Enforcement Agency

In summary:

Males, especially youngsters, beware. This is not limited to Ireland.

Detective Superintendent Sinéad Greene from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB, Ireland's National Police and Security Service) warns:

The cohort of individuals that we're seeing that's being targeted most is young male victims, between the ages of 18 and 24... They're engaging with individuals online on social media messaging apps, dating apps, and sharing intimate images and videos. What that ultimately leads to is the person on the other end, the individual themselves or a crime group, making demands for money or making demands for further images.

Director of Cybercrime Neal Jetton said the groups behind these crimes are "very organized," with criminals operating across borders and working in coordinated groups to target victims at scale. These networks often run "mass campaigns," sending large volumes of messages across social media, gaming and dating platforms to draw victims in.

Once contact is made and an image or video is obtained, offenders "put immense pressure" on victims, threatening to share material with friends and family unless money is paid...

After messaging back and forth for a while, the woman (almost always) suggests they move to a video call over Facebook Messenger, and they type into the chat that the microphone isn't working. After her clothes are off on the screen, they message, asking to see you and asking you to take your pants off. Then if you accept and do it, during the call you will see a little red dot at the top of your screen, and the call will end.

And the sextortion will begin...

The rest of the details of a true event (with video narration) are in the link at the top.

Bottom line: Men of all ages should exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, and never accept such an invitation unless they are completely certain, which is nearly always impossible!