A new extortion method, known as 'Sextortion', has emerged in Mexico City, affecting people of all ages, especially those over 30 years old and younger individuals who are regular social media users, according to Humberto Morgan, vice president of the Citizen Security Observatory. This crime consists of criminal groups contacting their victims through dating apps such as Facebook Dating, Tinder, Bumble, and Litmatch. The criminals manage to persuade individuals to send them intimate photos or videos and then threaten to spread this material if their payment or personal information demands are not met.
In case of being a victim of 'Sextortion', Humberto Morgan advises citizens not to provide additional information to the criminals, such as family details or daily routines. It is important to confirm the identity of the person contacted, take note of communication details, inform family members about the situation, and contact the relevant authorities, such as the police or support entities. Morgan also emphasizes the importance of reporting cases to combat this crime that has been increasing in the Mexican capital.
Criminals operating in 'Sextortion' often create fake profiles on social media, using attractive images and suggesting a high socioeconomic status to gain the trust of potential victims. Once the connection is established, they manipulate people into sharing intimate content, which they then use to extort them. Humberto Morgan stresses that both men and women can fall into this trap, with the most vulnerable age range being 18 to 30 years old.
Humberto Morgan also warns about the use of spyware applications by criminals, which can access mobile devices through malware in apps like Whatsapp or Facebook, to obtain sensitive information from victims and carry out 'Sextortion'. According to data from the Citizen Security Observatory, since 2023, there have been 1,130 reported cases of 'Sextortion' in dating apps, of which 48% were completed and 52% remained attempts.
