TL;DR: Sextortion is when offenders trick or pressure someone into sending sexual images, then threaten to share them unless they get money, gift cards or more content. The AFP-led ACCCE says it still gets almost 100 reports a month about Australian children, mostly by offshore criminal groups. If it’s happening: stop chatting, screenshot, block, report to the platform and accce.gov.au/report. Don’t pay. And tell someone you trust. It’s not your fault.
The numbers
From the AFP (September 2024):
- The ACCCE received 560 reports in the first half of 2024, about 93 a month.
- That’s down from about 300 a month in 2023, the first drop since the crime surged in 2022.
- Police still call it under-reported.
- The AFP and AUSTRAC have helped close 1,800+ bank and digital currency accounts linked to offshore groups.
How it happens
Offenders trick or coerce someone into sending sexual images, then threaten to share them. Demands can be for money, gift cards or more images.
Warning signs (for parents and carers)
- Friend requests from people the child doesn’t know
- Sudden sexual questions or conversation
- Getting sexual images from a profile that asks for the same
- Being moved from one app to another
- Signs the sender may be writing in English as a second language
- Excuses for no video ("my webcam’s broken")
- Promises to delete content
If it’s happening right now
- Stop the chat. Don’t respond to demands.
- Screenshot the profile, messages and demands.
- Block the account and report it to the platform.
- Don’t pay and don’t send more images. Paying usually leads to more demands.
- Report to the ACCCE at accce.gov.au/report.
- Tell a trusted person. Get support, including mental health support.
Where to get help
| Situation | Contact |
|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 000 |
| Report the crime | accce.gov.au/report |
| Non-urgent police help | 131 444 |
| Free, confidential counselling (young people) | Kids Helpline |
| Response kit for ages 13–17 | ThinkUKnow online blackmail and sexual extortion kit |
For parents: the most important line
If your child comes to you, the first words matter most. "Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. We’ll fix this together." Offenders rely on shame to keep kids quiet and paying.
Young men are the biggest target
Sextortion isn’t only a teen problem. eSafety received more than 3,300 sextortion reports in 2025, and 86% came from male victims, The Daily Aus reported in June 2026. Nearly half of all reports came from men aged 18 to 24.
The pattern eSafety described:
- First contact on Tinder, Instagram or Grindr.
- The chat moves fast to WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Spoofed numbers make overseas criminals look like Australians.
- After an image is shared: countdown threats to create panic.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said young people new to an area are especially exposed: "They may not understand [local] dating conventions. They’re away from home." If you have older teens or young adult kids at uni, this is the conversation to have too.
Reduce exposure
Offenders find targets through public profiles. Set teens’ accounts to private and limit who can message them. Our guides to Instagram privacy and TikTok privacy help. Also see sextortion in New Zealand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is most targeted by sextortion in Australia?
eSafety said 86% of its 2025 sextortion reports came from male victims, and nearly half from men aged 18 to 24.
Where do I report sextortion in Australia?
Report it to the ACCCE at accce.gov.au/report. Call 000 if someone is in immediate danger.
Should my child pay a sextortion demand?
No. Don’t pay or send more images. Stop contact, screenshot, block, report and get support.
How common is sextortion in Australia?
The ACCCE receives almost 100 reports a month about children being targeted, according to the AFP.
What are the warning signs of sextortion?
Unknown friend requests, sudden sexual conversation, pressure to switch apps, excuses not to video chat, and promises to delete content.
Sources
- The Daily Aus: Men made 86% of sextortion reports to eSafety in 2025 (Jun 2026)
- AFP: Sextortion reports drop but concern for children remains