Children as young as 11 to 13 are being targeted by sextortion criminals for the first time, according to recent data.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has highlighted this “concerning” trend, revealing that offenders behind these extortion schemes are broadening their reach to ensnare more victims.

Sextortion is a type of blackmail in which teenagers—primarily boys, although cases involving girls have also risen significantly—are manipulated into sharing explicit images of themselves. Fraudsters typically approach them via social media and messaging apps, later demanding money and threatening to distribute the images if their demands are not met.

The UK-based internet safety organization reported five confirmed cases last year where children aged 11 to 13 fell prey to sextortion, out of a total of 175 verified incidents involving under-17s. While the 2024 figure was slightly lower than the 176 cases recorded the previous year, the IWF emphasized that sextortion remains a “major issue.”

“The fact that these perpetrators are casting the net to get 11 to 13-year-olds is worrying,” said Tamsin McNally, IWF’s hotline manager. “Although it is a small amount, I do worry that number will grow.”

Last month, parents of students at a primary school in Edinburgh were urged to check their children's devices after an eight-year-old girl reportedly fell victim to a sextortion scam.

The school warned parents that someone had been impersonating students on Snapchat, and police confirmed they were investigating after receiving “several reports” of indecent images being shared.

McNally noted a troubling new tactic observed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), in which criminals not only threaten to distribute explicit images but also attempt to frame victims as perpetrators of sexual offenses.

“They are now claiming they will share the image but also manipulate it to make it appear as though the victim is responsible for a sexual crime. This adds an extreme level of pressure to coerce victims into paying,” she explained.

Last year, the National Crime Agency (NCA) warned international cybercriminals that it could pursue extradition as part of its crackdown on sextortion. The agency identified West Africa, particularly Nigeria, as a key base for sextortion gangs.

McNally emphasized that many children may still be living in fear of the consequences of such attacks, unaware that an online system exists to help remove sexual images from the internet.

The Report Remove service, run by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in collaboration with the children’s charity NSPCC, enables children to anonymously report intimate images or videos of themselves that have been shared or could be shared online, including those sent to sextortion scammers. This allows tech platforms to remove the content or prevent it from being uploaded.

In 2024, the use of Report Remove saw a significant rise, with IWF data revealing that 1,142 reports were processed—an increase of 44% compared to 2023. Nearly half of the images flagged came from teenagers aged 14 to 15. Of the 175 confirmed sextortion cases last year, 151 were reported through the Report Remove tool.

A parent, speaking anonymously, described the service as a “gamechanger” for their family after their 16-year-old son was targeted in a sextortion attempt.

IWF’s interim chief executive, Derek Ray-Hill, stressed the urgency of the issue, stating: “It is absolutely clear that the need for the Report Remove tool has never been greater.

“These alarming figures highlight how offenders continue to prey on children online, fully aware of their vulnerability to manipulation, exploitation, and abuse.”