Men in their twenties are bearing the brunt of cruel sextortion scams, a review of 50 cases by Nationwide reveals. Those targeted range from 13 to 70, averaging just 25. Nearly half (47%) are 20–29, and 98 per cent of those identified were male.
Separate research from Nationwide* polling over 2,000 consumers shows this 16–24-year-olds surveyed are also most worried about younger people sharing intimate images compared to all age groups (71%[1] vs 61%1). It could be they are more anxious because they’ve seen the consequences firsthand and don’t want younger people to repeat the same mistakes.
More generally the findings highlight that over half of high school/ secondary school or university students surveyed (54%1) feel it has become harder to spot scams in general, and more than one in five (23%) having been scammed.
Jim Winters, Head of Economic Crime at Nationwide said; “These cases illustrate how scammers exploit vulnerability, urgency, and shame especially among younger people who may have limited experience with fraud or feel too embarrassed to ask for help early.
“Our insight and research shows how easily private and sensitive information can be used against us. The safest way to protect yourself is not to share anything that you wouldn’t want in the wrong hands. Maybe easier said than done but the damage caused here is far beyond financial.”
Explainer - how sextortion typically unfolds
Nationwide case evidence shows a consistent pattern:
Sean (anonymised) – “They said they’d ruin my life”:
Sean met someone on Tinder. They developed a relationship online. After exchanging images and video calling, he received a threatening call demanding money. The scammer instructed him to download money transfer apps and share his screen through WhatsApp and Instagram. Once the first payment was made, further threats followed.
Harrison (anonymised) – Private photos used as leverage:
Harrison was contacted via Instagram by someone posing as a young girl. Everything felt normal. After he was encouraged to move to another chat app he was made to feel comfortable enough to share private images, they gained access to his Instagram. The scammer threatened to release the photos unless he bought Apple gift cards. Finally, he found the courage to tell his Father who reported the incident to police.
Red flag watch outs - simple steps to help people stay safe:
- Stop and pause before sharing images or personal details. It’s safest not to share images or personal information. Have you met them in person? It’s not a failsafe but it’s more reliable than just chatting online. Once shared there is no going back.
- Never move to another platform at someone else’s request. Fraudsters deliberately shift conversations very quickly to less secure channels. What’s the hurry, make the most of the protection.
- Do not send money, gift cards, or codes – even if being threatened. Scammers thrive on panic and urgency, paying once always leads to more demands.
- Being rushed. This is a classic scammer tactic, they will put you under a time pressure, this will stop you from thinking about what you are about to do.
- Talk to someone you trust and report it. Shame is what scammers rely on. Confiding in the police, a friend, family member or bank allows for faster action and protection.
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*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nat rep 16+. The data was collected between 04.02.2026-06.02.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles
