Discord is a popular voice and text chat app for gamers that is growing in popularity with the rise of online gaming. Unfortunately, it has also become a favored tool for sextortionists. If you’re a Discord user, it’s important to know how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of this type of extortion. This article will explain what sextortion is, how to identify if you’re being targeted, and steps you can take to protect yourself from Discord sextortion.
What You Need to Know About Discord Sextortion
Discord has formed a community where gamers can go and chat with other individuals that share common interests. The platform is typically used by a younger audience, catching many blackmailers’ attention. Blackmailers tend to go after people who are most vulnerable and likely to fall for their scams such as teens and young adults. So, what scams should you be looking out for?
Catfish Accounts
Sextortionists are creating fake accounts and luring people with flirtatious and sexual talk that leads to exchanging of explicit content. Once these scammers obtain a victim’s image or video is when they threaten to release the content online and to family and friends if they don’t get what they are demanding which is typically money.
QR Codes and Links
Another common form of Discord sextortion is accounts or bots that send out QR codes attached to links to “verify” accounts before they can access certain Discord servers. Once that link is clicked and that QR code is scanned a sextortionists is granted access to their victim’s discord account as well as the user’s private information due to malware.
Why Do People Sextort on Discord?
Besides blackmailers using Discord to target teens and young adults, the features of the platform also allow sextortionists to do their dirty work which is another reason they utilize the app to sextort.
Discord allows these criminals to chat, send videos and images, and make video calls to whomever they want, giving them all the tools, they need to coerce their victims into sharing content.
How to Stop Discord Sextortion & Who Can Help
To stop Discord sextortion, you should be aware of the potential threats that are lurking on the web. Here are some tips to follow to keep yourself safer on Discord.
- Be cautious of what information you share with strangers or post on your accounts
- Keep your accounts private with strong security and privacy settings
- Stay away from strange links and QR codes
- Stay away from strangers that lead the conversation with a sexual tone and are consistent in sharing content
- Never send explicit content of yourself to anyone online
These are tips on how to avoid becoming a cyber sextortion victim but how can you stop the crime while it’s happening?
The best thing to do once you are faced with blackmail is seek out the help of law enforcement and specialists. Sextortion is a very serious crime and these criminals use strategies and tactics that experts know how to handle. That being said, you should always make a report to your local authorities and the FBI, as well as seek out blackmail specialists that can help. Use the Private Digital Investors Sextortion Hotline.
If you are a victim of discord sextortion, it is important to report the blackmail as soon as possible. Images and videos can easily be shared without your consent and used against you in blackmail schemes such as this one. We hope our tips have been helpful and we encourage you to stay safe online. Have any other questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information or assistance.
