A very harmful scam scheme, termed s&xtortion, is disproportionately impacting teenagers globally, leading to tragic outcomes.
In the US alone, it has been linked to over 27 suicides.
Scammers, many reportedly from Nigeria, deceive victims into sharing explicit content, then blackmail them, BBC reported.
Jennifer Buta’s son, Jordan, 17, fell victim to this scam, leading to his tragic suicide two years ago. His bedroom remains untouched, a poignant memorial to her son, with his basketball jerseys, clothes, posters, and bedsheets still in place, a testament to the enduring pain of his loss.
“It still smells like him. That’s one of the reasons I still have the door closed. I can still smell that sweat, dirt, cologne mix in this room. I’m just not ready to part with his stuff,” she said.
Jordan, a 17-year-old, was deceived by s*xtortion scammers on Instagram, who posed as a teenage girl, exchanging flirtatious messages and explicit images to manipulate him into sharing intimate photos.
The scammers then demanded hundreds of pounds to prevent sharing the images with his friends. Jordan, desperate to protect his reputation, sent money and pleaded with them to stop, threatening suicide if they didn’t.
The criminals callously replied, “Good… Do that fast – or I’ll make you do it.”
Tragically, Jordan took his own life just six hours after the scam began. His mother, Jenn, has since become a prominent advocate against s*xtortion, using the TikTok account Jordan created for her to raise awareness and warn others.
Her videos have reached over a million likes. The scammers, identified as Nigerian brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, were arrested, extradited to the US, and face sentencing for child s*xploitation charges.
Jordan’s heartbreaking story has become a rallying cry in the fight against s*xtortion.
In a May 2023 document on the website of the US Department of Justice, Jennifer Buta said, “The last year without Jordan has seemed to pass by so quickly and yet it was the longest 13 months of our lives. Our hearts will forever be broken with a huge part of our lives missing.
“Jordan was a son, a brother, a grandson, a friend, a student, a co-worker and a role model. He was the perfect mix of fun-loving and hard-working. He played hard, he loved hard, and he never held back. If you caught Jordan on a summer day, he’d likely be cruising in his car with the music up, taking in as much sun as he could at the beach and dancing without a care in the world.
“Jordan’s smile could light up any room. Jordan’s charm and beautiful smile were contagious, drawing people to him wherever he went and leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met. He wanted to connect and be everyone’s friend and he did just that.
“As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what Jordan went through that night and how scared he was because of this senseless act. When we were informed that Jordan was potentially a victim of an internet scam called s*xtortion via Instagram, there was never a hesitation in our minds to share his story. We wanted everyone to be aware about s*xtortion and have those tough conversations with their families so if it did happen to them they knew to talk to someone.
“Immediately, many families reached out to support us as their family went through this. We received countless messages from families afterwards that their child was being pursued online, and because we shared Jordan’s story, those children went to their parents for help.
“We want to thank our family, our friends, our community and the many people near and far who have been there for us throughout this unimaginable time. We are humbled by the overwhelming support you have given to our families. We have so much love for all of you.
“We are here today because of the outstanding efforts by multiple agencies that worked together on Jordan’s case over the last year.”
“Our focus going forward is to bring more awareness to children, young adults and parents. Our family has forever been changed by this heinous crime and our objective is to prevent another individual from being victimized.
“Kids, teenagers, young adults and even adults can be a target of s*xtortion. We urge you to have discussions about this and have a plan for your children to reach out if it does happen to them. Jordan will never be forgotten. He will forever be in our hearts and will drive us forward to share his story and help others,” she also said.
S*xtortion, a sensitive and underreported crime, has seen an alarming surge in cases, with US figures showing over 100% increase last year, reaching 26,700 incidents.
Tragically, at least 27 boys have taken their own lives in the past two years due to s*xtortion.
Research and law enforcement agencies have identified West Africa, particularly Nigeria, as a hub for s*xtortion operators.
Recent arrests and trials in Nigeria have linked suspects to s*xtortion cases in Australia, the US, and Canada, resulting in suicides.
In January, the NCRI exposed a network of Nigerian social media accounts sharing s*xtortion tips and scripts, often in the Nigerian Pidgin dialect. Unfortunately, cybercrime has become normalized among some young Nigerians, who see it as a means to earn a living amidst poverty and unemployment, says Dr. Tombari Sibe of Digital Footprints Nigeria.
He notes that many young people engage in cyber-fraud without fully considering the consequences, as they see their peers profiting from it.
The term “Yahoo Boys” has emerged to describe this subset of young Nigerians involved in cybercrime, a phenomenon that dates back to the early 2000s Nigerian Prince email scams.