Rise in sextortion attempts sparks police warning

Officers said the majority of sextortion attempts were in the the 14-18 and 18-30 age groups

A rise in sextortion reports has led to a warning from police.

Guernsey Police said there had been 15 incidents in the first three quarters of 2025 - up from eight during the whole of 2024.

It said sextortion, which involves victims being forced to pay money by an offender threatening to release inappropriate images on platforms, including social media, was a growing issue.

Officers said the majority of cases were in the 14-18 and 18-30 age groups, and it was essential for families to be aware of the risks that sextortion scams posed.

Police said artificial intelligence image generators and editing tools had become another way offenders had tried to blackmail victims.

Work to highlight the dangers of sextortion was being highlighted by school lessons, along with workshops and training from police staff, said the force.

Digital safety development officer Laura Simpson said sextortion was ultimately about money.

"The criminals involved are not technologically sophisticated but know how to emotionally manipulate victims into believing they have no choice but to pay up," she said.

"This crime plays on the feelings of guilt and shame, which makes it easy to isolate teenagers."