“Cyber Blackmailers” abusing UK children

A survey found that hundreds of UK children are being blackmailed into performing sex online by abusers posing as children.

14:44 20 September 2013

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre has revealed that there are hundreds of children in Britain that are forced to perform sex acts online by cyber blackmailers. Abusers, who are posing as children online, would talk unsuspecting victims into sharing their images or doing sexual acts. Then, they will threaten the children to send pictures or their conversations to their friends or family members unless they comply with their wishes. Some are forced to do more sexual acts while others were extorted for money. 

CEOP confirmed that there are 424 children who were blackmailed online and 184 of them are from the UK. 

CEOP operations manager Stephanie McCourt said that one of the reasons why UK children are easy target is because of the English language. "First of all it's the English language. They are able to threaten the children if they can communicate to them. English is a really popular universal language.

"Second of all, the offenders have actually said that because they perceive the UK as a very free and open and liberal society, they think that they will have more success in targeting UK children."

Meanwhile, online black mailers have driven seven victims to kill themselves including a 17-year-old in the UK. Daniel Perry, from Dunfermline, Fife, committed suicide after blackmailers demanded thousands of pounds.