Two students reported cases of sexual extortion in September.
Michael Hopper, the public information officer for UCAPD, said there were eight sextortion cases reported in 2023 and two so far in 2024.
“Generally, the victim is contacted via some sort of social media profile or online dating app,” Hopper said. “The victim is usually encouraged to send nude photographs. Generally, the suspect will send photos of themselves, but in actuality, it is of some other person. Once the suspect has photographs of the victim, they will then demand money or gift cards to prevent publication or distribution of the photographs. Sometimes the suspect will threaten to send the photographs to members of the victims’ families or their friends.”
On Sept. 6, a 19-year-old student reported to UCAPD that someone hacked his Snapchat, changing the username and the password.
The student said he got a text message from an iCloud email requesting payment to give the Snapchat account back. The student then sent $100 via CashApp to a user named Fatima Castro.
The student said the scammer sent him a false username and password and requested $50 more for the correct login information, and the student complied.
However, the scammer demanded $500 more. The suspect said he would post nude photos saved in the student’s private Snapchat memories if he did not send the money, according to the report.
According to the report, the student did not send any more money and was able to regain access to his Snapchat account.
UCAPD requested the student complete an online report with the FBI Internet Crime Division, and the case is now inactive.
On Sept. 3, a 20-year-old student reported to UCAPD that he received a threatening email.
According to the report, the email stated that if the student did not send $2,000 to a Bitcoin account, the suspect would release footage of the student that was obtained by hacking the student’s computer.
According to the report, the email included a Google Maps photo of the student’s home address, threatening to reach him if he did not respond to the email. The email said the suspect installed a spyware called Pegasus on the student’s phone and computer and has been collecting videos and pictures to send to the student’s contact list.
According to the report, the student said he did not believe there was ransomware on his devices, and there were no compromising videos or photos on his phone. UCAPD provided the student with the FBI Internet Crime Division online reporting link, and the case is now inactive.
Hopper said, “These cases are very difficult to investigate. Most of the time, the scam originates outside of the country. We generally will request the assistance of the FBI because they have access to resources that we do not.”
Hopper said it is important for students to be wary of sending private photos and to use UCAPD as a resource if their photos happen to get leaked.
“We would encourage our students to never send nude photographs to anyone, especially someone they met online. If they choose to do so, never have your face in the photograph,” he said. “If you should fall victim, we encourage students to never send money and to report the incident as soon as possible. The suspect will usually demand more and more after the initial sum is paid and will most likely post the photographs anyway. Screenshot any communication and take note of any screen name, email or IP address of the suspect.”
Hopper said the Counseling Center is a great resource for any student who has gone through sexual extortion.
Susan Sobel, the director of the Counseling Center, said the Counseling Center works with students on an individual basis, helping them in a variety of ways.
“The Counseling Center would provide counseling or consultation around feelings that come up, which may include anxiety, sadness, guilt or shame, anger and a lack of trust in their own judgment and/or people, especially those similar to the person who exploited them,” Sobel said. “All of these are normal feelings in the face of such a situation, though I don’t think they have anything to feel ashamed of. It can certainly be embarrassing to have words and actions a person thought were private go out into the public world, but that doesn’t mean they did something wrong. We would work with the student to find the most helpful strategies to navigate their feelings, regain their sense of empowerment, and navigate the legal process if there is to be one.”