It is known that only one person was convicted in Scotland last year for a so-called sextortion-wamid-by that thousands of people are the target.
In the crimes, victims – mainly young men – are tempted to send explicit photos or videos to someone who has become friends online.
They are then told to send money to prevent the images from being forwarded to friends and family.
Those who have been focused in the last five years include a shocking 1,200 children – some as young as ten.
Among that victim was a tragic school boy Murray Dowey, 16, from Dunblane, Perthshire.
The young person took his own life in December 2023 after he was tormented by criminals in a sextortion scam.
However, the predominantly online character of the crime means that the perpetrators who focus on bulkheads are usually based abroad or succeed in completely hiding their location.
Campaigners and politicians have expressed concern about the long -term impact of the scam because they call for more means to help combat crime.
MSP Sharon Dowey, Scottish conservative spokesperson for victims and community safety, said: “Sextortion is a cruel crime that can destroy lives.
Murray Dowey, 16, from Dunblane, Perthshire, took his own life in December 2023 after he was tormented by criminals in a so -called 'sextortion' scam
Most perpetrators would be 'outside Scotland' or from a location 'unknown'
'SNP -ministers must work closely with our legal system to ensure that they have the means to combat these threats and to punish perpetrators.
'That includes investing in technology to identify those anonymous criminals who blackmail young victims.
“Victims will have trouble continuing with their lives if the person responsible does not feel the full consequences of their own actions.”
In 2023-24, an estimated 2,080 threat crimes and extortion were committed online, an increase of 14 percent compared to the estimated 1,830 registered in 2022-23 and a six-fold increase compared to the estimated 290 registered in 2019-20.
Police Scotland has said that most registered crimes relate to sextortion.
However, data obtained from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) suggest that the number of criminals convicted for the crimes is much lower.
De Kroon said that in 2023/24 only 10 accusations of threats and extortion were reported where the cargo reference to disclosure of (or threatening) contained to announce intimate images.
During the same year, only one person was convicted, while another case was going on.
One person who was convicted received a return order from the community.
It is thought that the relatively small number of charges that are reported, partly under the anonymous and global nature of criminals behind the regulations.
Of the 2,080 online online crimes of threats and extortion registered in Scotland in 2023/24, for example, about 56 percent of the perpetrators were said they were 'outside Scotland', while the location of another 37 percent was 'unknown'.
A group of cyber criminals, based in Nigeria and known as the Yahoo Boys, is supposed to have extorted thousands of British teenagers.
De Kroon said that it had reported the charges of threats and extortion that also contain the references to the 'disclosure of (or threatening) to make intimate images known'.
Gangs in Nigeria referred to as 'Yahoo Boys' are behind a lot of the scams. Above a group of suspects were arrested in Nigeria in July 2019
A video produced by the National Crime Agency showed the tactics used by scammers
However, it warned that this method for collecting data from the system was' no Failsafe 'and' can omit 'data due to inconsistencies, such as spelling errors or missing details'.
It said that the only way to avoid this would be to check every case manually, which it would not be possible within the cost limits set out in the freedom of information laws.
A spokesperson for the COPFs said: 'Only a very small number of the registered incidents are reported to us.
“If we receive reports, we will take action where there are indications for a crime and it is in the public interest to do this.”
The National Crime Agency of the UK believes that so -called sextortion has been reported considerably too little.
In an attempt to increase the consciousness of the issue and to show victims how he can get help, it has carried out countless campaigns, including advertisements on TV and social media.
The NCA has said that the police in the UK received an average of 117 reports from 'Sextortion' every month.
Alex Murray, NCA director of Threat Leadership, said a new campaign earlier this week and said: 'Many victims feel responsible for the situation in which they find themselves.
'But we need them to know that this is absolutely not the case; You are not the fault and help and support is available.
“Like to increase consciousness, we want to encourage young people to report incidents to an adult they trust, the police or the CEOP Safety Center.”
Police Scotland launched a new campaign in November to increase the consciousness of the issue and to inform young people about how they can prevent the victim.
The fearless Scotland initiative, financed and supported by the Scottish government and the police, aims to focus on Scots between 13 and 21.
The Internet Watch Foundation provides advice to young people who have been the target in Sextortion Futing, including having images from the web deleted using the Removing Tool Removing Tool report.
Interim CEO Derek Ray-Hill said the details in our story and said: 'perpetrators continue to ruthlessly focus on our children, knowing that they are vulnerable to coercion and abuse.
“However, it is vital that children and their families know that they have no mistake and can take steps to grab control of their images.”
Police Scotland said it is looking for a cyber and fraud command, of which it said it will make greater British cooperation possible with improved victim focus and access to interventions and disruption options. “
Assistant -Head Commissioner Steve Johnson said: 'Sextortion can be committed by individuals, but organized crime gangs based abroad are often responsible, which can make a more difficult crime to detect.
'Everyone who has been the victim of Sextortion is encouraged not to panic or pay. They should not be ashamed of reporting this treacherous crime to the Scotland police, a parent, guardian, teacher or someone else they trust.
“Our officers are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and will ensure that they are reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish government said: “The Scottish government has financed the fearless sextortion campaign that encourages people to report such cases. We have worked with partners, including Police Scotland and Support Services, to ensure that they can respond quickly and consistently to calls on reports of Sextortion. '
