I wish I didn’t have to write this one. But here we are.
A new wave of sextortion attacks is targeting teenagers, and this time the scammers don’t even need the teen to send anything. They’re using AI image generation to create realistic fake nude photos from social media profiles, then threatening to share them unless they get paid.
Let that sink in. Your kid doesn’t have to make a mistake. They just need to have a social media profile.
How This Scam Works
The playbook is disturbingly simple: the attacker scrapes photos from a teenager’s social media profile, uses AI tools to generate realistic-looking nude images, contacts the teen directly (usually via DM on Instagram or Snapchat), and then threatens to send the fake images to the teen’s friends, family, and school unless they pay.
The images aren’t real, but the shame and fear they cause absolutely are. These scammers are counting on teenagers being too scared and embarrassed to tell anyone.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Your teen won’t always tell you something’s wrong. But watch for: receiving unexpected messages from strangers or new accounts, being asked for money or gift cards, sudden distress or anxiety about something online, wanting to delete social media accounts out of nowhere, or mentioning someone threatening to share photos of them.
What to Do If This Happens
Don’t pay. I know the instinct is to make it go away, but paying never stops the demands. They’ll just come back for more.
Take screenshots. Save everything – the messages, the profile, the fake images. You’ll need this evidence.
Report it. Contact the eSafety Commissioner or your local police. This is a serious crime and it’s being taken seriously.
Talk to your teen. The most important thing you can do is make sure they know they can come to you without judgment. The scammers rely on shame and silence.
The Uncomfortable Truth
This isn’t a problem that’s going away. AI image generation is getting better, easier to access, and harder to detect. The best defence we have is education and open conversations with our kids.
Have the conversation before something happens. Not after.
The best time to talk to your kids about online safety is before they need to hear it.
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