A new report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) finds that financial sextortion, a worrying type of cybercrime, is on the rise in North America and Australia.
This trend is largely driven by a non-organized cybercriminal group in West Africa that goes by the name Yahoo Boys.
Sextortion, a term elucidated by the FBI, pertains to the coercion of minors by adults to transmit sexually explicit images through digital platforms. This reprehensible act entails exploiting the vulnerability of young individuals, compelling them to engage in inappropriate and potentially harmful behavior online.
Perpetrators threaten victims with widespread distribution of explicit content unless a ransom is paid repeatedly through various channels, including peer-to-peer payment apps, cryptocurrency transfers, and gift cards.
NCRI, a nonprofit organization, uncovered that cybercriminals exploit social apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Wizz to identify and connect with their targets.
The Yahoo Boys, who gained notoriety in West Africa, are using their tactics as a quick means to amass wealth in a region where alternative sources of income are scarce. Popular songs glorifying the Yahoo Boys have contributed to their cultural influence.
Critical Call for Stronger Action Against Sextortion
Despite a rise in reported sextortion cases, platforms used by Yahoo Boys and other threat actors have been slow to moderate content or implement changes to combat the spread of this crime, according to the NCRI researchers.
Sextortion is a transnational crime threat with severe consequences, causing a significant number of American deaths, notes Paul Raffile, a senior intelligence analyst with NCRI.
The impact of this crime, primarily affecting boys and young men, can be devastating, pushing some victims to suicide. Notably, there have been cases of Nigerian men extradited to the U.S. facing charges in sextortion schemes linked to tragic suicides.
The Yahoo Boys employ various platforms to promote their tactics and recruit new members, including publishing training videos on TikTok, Scribd, and YouTube. NCRI’s study uncovered dozens of videos and guides teaching how to run a financial sextortion scam, which had been viewed over half a million times.
In response to queries, TikTok took down multiple videos featuring Yahoo Boys, alleging infractions of its anti-scam policies. The unsettling contents highlight the critical need for further measures to stop cash extortion and shield potential victims from this growing online danger.
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