Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Dan Milmo Global technology editor

‘It looks so real’: amid rise in financial sextortion, Childline is helping teenagers fight back

A person speaks on a mobile phone with the Childline logo in the background
One Childline worker said of the emotional impact of sextortion on young people: ‘They feel extremely foolish, they feel very embarrassed.’ Composite: Guardian Design/Alamy

It was a phone call that has become all too common for Childline counsellors in recent months.

The 17-year-old boy said he was scared and did not know what to do. He had been contacted by a “girl” on social media claiming to be his own age and, after an exchange of messages, had sent her an intimate image. And then the blackmail demands started.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.