In November, a teenager named Nathan faced a harrowing experience when he became the target of a sextortion scam. At midnight, Nathan burst into his parents' bedroom, distressed and fearful, declaring, "something terrible's happened." This incident underscores the growing threat posed by online criminals who exploit vulnerable youths. The blackmailer initially demanded £50 from Nathan, repeatedly calling and messaging him, threatening to expose intimate images to all his contacts if he did not comply.
Simon, Nathan’s father, emphasized the importance of staying calm during the crisis. He and his wife managed to maintain composure as they addressed the situation. Simon's wife quickly turned to the internet for guidance and discovered Report Remove—a tool that allows children to anonymously flag intimate images or videos they have been coerced into sending. This was a turning point for Nathan, offering him psychological relief and a sense of control over the situation.
“He was very upset, I’d say hysterical at the start, but after an hour or so he’d calmed down. He said his main worry was what we would think, and once he’d established that we were on his side that was like a massive weight off his shoulders.” – Simon
The timely use of Report Remove proved effective. Within hours, the blackmailer moved on. Simon reflected on the importance of involving parents early in such situations and maintaining an open dialogue with children about their online activities.
“Don’t try to manage the situation yourself. Definitely don’t get drawn into a dialogue with the blackmailer.” – Simon
Nathan's experience aligns with the second phase of the Fearless Scotland campaign, which now focuses on educating parents and carers. The campaign aims to provide them with tools and strategies to safeguard their children online. Youth-targeted advertisements promoting safe online practices have garnered nearly 9 million views on social media, indicating a widespread need for more youth-focused information.
Simon advocates for an agreement between parents and children regarding phone usage as a preventive measure. He insists it is a basic duty of care rather than an invasion of privacy.
“We have an agreement that we are able to look at their phone because that’s a basic part of parenting now. It’s not snooping, it’s not invasion of their privacy, it’s basic duty of care, but you need to have the agreement upfront.” – Simon
Lyndsay McDade highlighted the confusion many parents face regarding technology and online safety. She emphasized the necessity for parents to understand the platforms their children use and how to protect them from potential threats.
“It’s clear that parents are often confused by the technology their young people are using and don’t understand the different ways to keep their children safe online,” – Lyndsay McDade
Nathan's case is not isolated. Simon was informed by an officer from the child exploitation online protection unit that such incidents are alarmingly common among teenagers today.
“When I was talking to the officer from the child exploitation online protection unit, she told me probably the majority of teenagers have done this, which is both comforting and pretty terrible. It’s ridiculously common.” – Simon