Guernsey Police encourage parents to talk to children about online safety, after a sharp rise in sextortion cases.

The force says eight incidents of sextortion have been investigated in Guernsey so far this year.

Sextortion sees victims send money to offenders, who are threatening to release compromising or indecent photos of them.

The UK's Internet Watch Foundation says that 91% of reported cases in 2023 involved 14 to 18-year-old boys.

Guernsey's Digital Safety Development Officer Laura Simpson says police staff have been hosting workshops, delivering assemblies, and holding staff awareness training across the Bailiwick’s schools to warn students of the dangers:

“Sextortion is a crime which is ultimately about money.

The criminals involved are not technologically sophisticated but know how to manipulate young men into believing they have no choice but to pay up.

This crime plays on the feelings of guilt and shame, which makes it easy to isolate teenagers.

Through our schools programme, we have shared information and advice about avoiding sextortion, and would encourage anyone who may have been victim of this type of crime to report it.”

PC Nick Boughay says families should have regular conversations about safety, including online.

“Many parents may feel left behind when it comes to discussing their children’s digital lives.

Our advice is to treat it like any other aspect of parenting, with open, honest conversations.

As parents, we need to look out for signs that something might be wrong, and as we think of all the potential things it could be, add into that ‘could it be something online?’”

What to do if it happens to you:

As a preventative measure, police advise islanders of all ages to only accept friend requests from people they actually know, and have met face-to-face.

Victims of sextortion scams should take screenshots as evidence, never send money, block the contact, and report the incident to the police.

There is more advice from The National Crime Agency online.