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A surge in “financial sextortion,” a form of cybercrime involving coercion of minors to send explicit images, is on the rise in North America and Australia. The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) attributes a significant portion of this activity to a non-organized cybercriminal group in West Africa known as “Yahoo Boys.” These criminals use social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Wizz to identify and connect with their victims, exploiting explicit images for financial gain.
Financial Sextortion and Yahoo Boys:
– Financial sextortion involves coercing minors into sending explicit images and threatening to distribute them unless victims make repeated payments through various channels, including peer-to-peer payment apps, cryptocurrency transfers, and gift cards.
– “Yahoo Boys” in West Africa, seeking rapid wealth, popularized these tactics, with cultural references in music lending these cybercriminal gangs cultural influence.
Impact on Victims:
– Financial sextortion is considered a transnational crime threat causing a significant number of deaths, with some victims resorting to suicide.
– The crime has predominantly impacted boys and young men.
Slow Moderation by Platforms:
– Despite increasing reports of sextortion, social media platforms have been slow to moderate materials or implement changes to curb the spread of such activities.
– NCRI researchers found that Yahoo Boys promote their tactics and recruit new members by publishing training materials, including videos and guides, on platforms such as TikTok, Scribd, and YouTube.
Materials Found on Platforms:
– The study identified dozens of videos on TikTok and YouTube showing Yahoo Boys engaging in sextortion, along with scripts on Scribd teaching others how to conduct similar activities.
– These materials had collectively garnered over half a million views.
Response from Platforms:
– TikTok, YouTube, and Scribd removed the identified materials after being notified, citing violations of platform guidelines.
– Social media platforms, including Meta (Instagram), Snapchat, and Wizz, have been criticized for not taking sufficient action to curb sextortion.
Recommendations by NCRI:
– Active removal of sextortion how-to guides, materials, and scripts from platforms.
– Introduction of a distinct category for reporting sextortion.
– Modification of platform designs to make it more difficult for cybercriminals to infiltrate victims’ personal networks.
Ongoing Issue and Senate Hearing:
– Sextortion remains an ongoing issue on mainstream social media platforms, and a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety online is scheduled for January 31, where CEOs from Meta, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord are expected to address efforts to combat sextortion.
The NCRI study emphasizes the need for more proactive measures by social media platforms to address the rising threat of financial sextortion, protect young users, and combat the influence of cybercriminal groups like the Yahoo Boys.