Financially motivated sextortion: a crime script analysis

Financial sextortion occurs when an offender threatens to distribute sexually explicit images, videos, or information unless a victim pays a ransom. Financial sextortion is a rapidly increasing crime that predominately impacts young men. Yet, very little empirical research exists on financial sextortion. The aim of the current study is to understand how financial sextortion unfolds to better prevent and disrupt this offense. This study used crime script analysis (CSA) to outline the specific offender actions and decisions inherent in financial sextortion. Data for this study come from 332 threads composed of 3,276 individual posts from one popular online sextortion support forum. The results of the CSA indicate that offenders move through several script scenes in the execution of financial sextortion: preparation, entry, instrumental actualization, doing, and exit. The results also highlight several red-flags within financial sextortion that can be used for educational crime prevention outreach. Further, this study outlines several strategies to prevent financial sextortion, such as creating and leveraging partnerships between research, law enforcement, and major social media platforms.