Alarming new data has exposed the horrifying scale of sextortion scams targeting children and young people across Scotland, with more than nine in ten of these predatory crimes remaining unsolved.
A Wave of Online Predation
Statistics obtained from Police Scotland show that in less than eighteen months, more than 200 children under the age of 16 fell victim to crimes of threats and extortion, which predominantly involve sextortion. A further 329 young people aged 16 to 18 were also targeted.
The deceitful schemes typically involve criminals, often pretending to be someone else, befriending victims online—mainly young men—and enticing them to send explicit photos or videos. Once the intimate images are secured, the predators reveal their true intentions, demanding money to prevent the images from being shared with the victim's friends and family.
A Tragically Low Detection Rate
The most worrying aspect of the figures is the abysmal detection rate. For this type of crime, the rate stands at less than 10 per cent, meaning the vast majority of perpetrators evade justice. Last year, Police Scotland recorded 1,759 crimes of threats and extortion, with only 143 detected. Between January and May this year, a further 731 crimes were recorded, with just 43 solved.
The tragic human cost of this failure was starkly highlighted in December 2023, when 16-year-old Murray Dowey from Dunblane, Perthshire, took his own life after being tormented by criminals in a sextortion scam.
An International Threat Stretching Thin Resources
The predominantly online nature of sextortion means perpetrators targeting Scots are frequently based abroad or successfully disguise their location. Previous analysis indicated 56 per cent of criminals were 'outside of Scotland', while the location of a further 37 per cent was 'unknown'. Groups like the Nigeria-based 'Yahoo Boys' are suspected of extorting thousands from British teenagers.
This international dimension makes investigations exceptionally difficult, a challenge compounded by resource constraints. Roz McCall, the Scottish Conservative shadow minister for children and young people, stated: "Sextortion is a sickening, and growing, crime that destroys lives, so it is deeply alarming that so few offenders are being brought to justice." She criticised SNP cuts for leaving Police Scotland 'stretched to breaking point'.
The threat even reaches the very young, with an incident earlier this year revealing that an eight-year-old girl at a Scottish school had been targeted.
Police Response and Public Advice
Police Scotland asserts that keeping young people safe is an absolute priority. The force is working with partners to raise awareness of sextortion and its harmful consequences. Its future business plan includes the creation of a dedicated Cyber and Fraud command to help tackle the issue.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston urged victims not to panic, not to pay, and not to be embarrassed to report the crime. "Report it to police, a parent, guardian, teacher, or someone you trust," he said. "Our officers are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to identify those responsible."
The force has reiterated its commitment to investigating all reports and ensuring perpetrators are reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
