Extortion and Sextortion Scam
FBI IC3 2024 documents a 59% surge in sextortion complaints (54,936 cases). Scammers claim to have compromising photos or videos and threaten to share them unless paid. A 2026 variant uses AI to generate fake compromising images from public social media photos.
Reports
54,936 IC3 complaints 2024 (+59%)
First documented
2018
Last active
2026-03
⚠ This page documents a reported scam pattern for educational purposes. Sources are cited for all statistics and claims. ZeroScam is not affiliated with the FTC, FBI, or FCC.
What the scam says
Variant 1 (email): 'I have hacked your camera and recorded you visiting adult websites. Pay $1,500 in Bitcoin within 48 hours or I will send the video to all your contacts.' Variant 2 (AI-generated): Scammer sends a fake AI-generated image claiming it was taken from your social media. Variant 3 (romance): Someone you met online convinces you to share intimate photos, then uses them to extort payment.
4 red flags
FBI IC3 2024: sextortion surged 59% — 54,936 complaints
Mass-blast sextortion emails include a real password from old data breaches to seem credible
AI can now generate convincing fake compromising images from your social media photos
No payment has ever stopped an extortionist — paying confirms you will pay again
What to do
Do not pay — paying encourages more extortion attempts
Save all communications as evidence
Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov — this is a federal crime
For minors: contact NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or CyberTipline.org
Report this scam
Source
FBI IC3 2024 — sextortion: 54,936 complaints, 59% increase; $33.5M in losses; FTC extortion scam alerts
https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf ↗People also search for
Frequently asked questions
What is the Extortion and Sextortion Scam?▼
FBI IC3 2024 documents a 59% surge in sextortion complaints (54,936 cases). Scammers claim to have compromising photos or videos and threaten to share them unless paid. A 2026 variant uses AI to generate fake compromising images from public social media photos.
How do I recognize a Extortion and Sextortion Scam?▼
Red flags: FBI IC3 2024: sextortion surged 59% — 54,936 complaints; Mass-blast sextortion emails include a real password from old data breaches to seem credible; AI can now generate convincing fake compromising images from your social media photos.
What should I do if I receive a Extortion and Sextortion Scam?▼
Do not pay — paying encourages more extortion attempts Save all communications as evidence Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov — this is a federal crime
How common is the Extortion and Sextortion Scam?▼
54,936 IC3 complaints 2024 (+59%). First documented: 2018. Source: FBI IC3 2024 — sextortion: 54,936 complaints, 59% increase; $33.5M in losses; FTC extortion scam alerts.
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Check your message →Source: FBI IC3 2024 — sextortion: 54,936 complaints, 59% increase; $33.5M in losses; FTC extortion scam alerts
First documented: 2018 · Last active: 2026-03
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