13 Feb 2026

Sextortion complaints jump nearly 50 percent

From Checkpoint, 4:24 pm on 13 February 2026

Sextortion complaints have jumped almost 50 percent according to online safety watchdog Netsafe. The online scams are a type of blackmail where someone threatens to share nude images or sexually explicit video of a person unless they get paid or are given more sexual content. On the eve of Valentine's Day Netsafe is reminding people to be careful; romance scams remain among the top ten reported to the watchdog. Netsafe's chief online safety officer Sean Lyons spoke to Lisa Owen.