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. Understanding and following Discord’s community guidelines is crucial to help protect against sextortion. 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 and Sexually Explicit Photos
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. However, the presence of other users, including adults, raises safety concerns due to the mixed age groups, as adults can interact freely with younger users. 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 sexual images or videos, 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. It is crucial to recognize the real-life implications of these online interactions and the risks they pose.
Why Do People Sextort on Discord? A Child Safety Perspective
Besides blackmailers using Discord to target teens and young adults, the features of the platform also allow sextortionists to do their dirty work, manipulating victims into engaging in sexual activity, 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.
Protecting Yourself from Sextortion Scams
Protecting yourself from sextortion scams requires a combination of online safety habits and awareness of the tactics used by scammers. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:
- Be cautious when interacting with strangers online: Always be wary of individuals who ask for personal or intimate information, especially if you don’t know them well.
- Never send sexually explicit photos or videos to someone you don’t know or trust: Once shared, these images can be used against you in blackmail schemes.
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts, making it harder for scammers to gain access.
- Be aware of the risks of sextortion: Educate yourself on how these scams work and know how to report them if you or someone you know becomes a victim.
- Keep your online profiles private: Be mindful of what you share online and adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see your information.
- Use reputable antivirus software: Keeping your device and browser up to date helps protect against malware and other online threats.
By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to sextortion scams.
Responding to Sextortion Threats
If you are being threatened with sextortion, it’s essential to take immediate action to protect yourself. Here are some steps you can take:
- Stop responding to the scammer’s messages: Cease all communication with the scammer and block their account to prevent further contact.
- Report the scammer to the platform or service where you were contacted: Most platforms have mechanisms for reporting abusive behavior.
- Save any evidence of the scam: Keep messages, screenshots, and any other relevant information that can be used as evidence.
- Contact local law enforcement or a national center for support and guidance: Reporting the crime to authorities can help bring the perpetrator to justice and provide you with necessary support.
- Seek help from a trusted adult or counselor: If you are feeling overwhelmed or distressed, talking to someone you trust can provide emotional support and practical advice.
- Remember that you are not alone: There are resources available to help you through this difficult time.
Taking these steps can help you regain control and ensure that the appropriate actions are taken to address the situation.
Child Safety and Online Protection
Child safety and online protection are critical concerns for parents and caregivers. Here are some tips to help keep children safe online:
- Monitor your child’s online activity: Regularly check what your child is doing online and set limits on their screen time to ensure they are not exposed to inappropriate content.
- Use parental controls: Block access to inappropriate content and websites using parental control settings on devices and apps.
- Teach your child about online safety: Educate them on the risks of sextortion and the importance of not sharing personal or intimate information online.
- Encourage your child to report any suspicious or uncomfortable online interactions: Make sure they know they can come to you with any concerns.
- Keep an open and honest dialogue: Regularly talk to your child about their online activity and any concerns they may have.
- Use reputable online safety tools and resources: Utilize tools and resources designed to help protect children online.
By taking these steps, you can help ensure your child’s safety and well-being in the digital world.
How to Stop Discord Sextortion & Who Can Help: Local Law Enforcement
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
Victims of sextortion may experience significant distress, which can lead to self harm as a result of the exploitation and blackmail.
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.
Reporting and Resources
If you or someone you know is a victim of sextortion, it’s essential to report it to the appropriate authorities and seek support. Here are some resources to help:
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) for assistance and to report cases of exploited children.
- Local law enforcement: Contact your local police department or sheriff’s office to report sextortion and get help.
- Online platforms: Report sextortion to the platform or service where it occurred to ensure the scammer’s account is investigated and potentially removed.
- Support hotlines: Reach out to hotlines like the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) for confidential support and guidance.
- Online safety resources: Visit reputable websites, such as the NCMEC’s CyberTipline, for information and resources on online safety and sextortion.
These resources can provide the support and guidance needed to navigate the situation and take appropriate action.
Young people face unique risks on platforms like Discord, particularly due to the presence of sexual content and sexually explicit content. Discord allows sexual content for users aged 18 and older, but the lack of effective age verification and moderation means that minors can still access inappropriate material. This raises significant concerns about child safety. A young person may not perceive online acquaintances as strangers, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that sexually explicit content can be shared in channels and private communications, which are not always adequately monitored. Parents need to be aware of these risks and take proactive measures to protect their children from potential exploitation and incidents such as sextortion.
