“Please be on the lookout, and if you become aware of this please contact the police.”
Schools contacted by RNZ said they had sent the message out to parents as requested, or were planning to, but none spoken to had any knowledge of this happening to their students.
Police would not say which schools had reported these incidents, but referred RNZ to a press released issued in February regarding “sextortion”.
In the release, Detective Sergeant Dan Wright defined sextortion as “online blackmail that involves someone persuading you to send them sexual images or videos of yourself and then threatening to share them with others unless you pay them money, agree to send more photos or even move funds for them”.
Police received 618 reports of sextortion between 2020 and the end of 2022, and of these, 54 percent of victims were males under the age of 25.
The youngest reported victims were two 10-year-old children.
“This is organised crime committed by offenders who often pose as someone similar in age to the person they are talking with,” Wright said.
“They will rely on threats and aggressive behaviour to get you to send them what they wan. It is important to remember you are not to blame and there is help available.”
Inglewood High School principal and Taranaki Secondary Schools Principals’ Association chairperson Rosey Mabin said inappropriate cellphone use was widespread, and not just among teenagers.
“Adults do silly things on their cellphones, too,” she said.
Schools were often the place where these issues came to light, Mabin said.
“Sometimes we end up having to unravel situations that are not of our making, or haven’t happened in school time.”
Parents have a role to play in keeping their kids safe online.
“It’s really important that parents are actively involved in monitoring their teenager’s use of their cellphones, and what they’re doing on various social media platforms.
“How you do that is not necessarily straightforward, but there are ways - and I know lots of parents who do their level best.”
How to spot sextortion
- Meeting on one app, then being encouraged to continue a conversation on a different platform
- Inconsistencies with a profile or language, and signs that English is a second language
- Introduction of sexualised conversations
- The other person says their webcam or microphone is not working to hide their identity
Advice for victims
- Avoid sending any more images or videos - even if they are threatening you
- Even if you comply with their demands, they could target you again
- Save any online chat and immediately take screenshots - this is important evidence for police
- Block the profile
- Report the content to the platform it is on (Facebook, Snapchat, PornHub etc) and request the content is removed
- Make a report to Police (via 105) or Netsafe.
For parents and caregivers
Supervise children online
- Have open conversations, often, about their online activities
- Research and then check online privacy settings, perhaps turn off location settings, set profiles to private, or turn off chat functions
- Be approachable if your child needs help - coming forward is not always easy.
- RNZ
