Children’s Mental Health Week (February 3-9) was held under the theme Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. It offered a timely opportunity to discuss pressing issues like cyberbullying, online safety, and, more specifically, sextortion.
Daren Dhoray
In a recent interview on Altos, IT professional and cyber safety advocate Daren Dhoray shed light on this alarming digital crime that has been linked to tragic cases of teenage suicide in Trinidad and Tobago.
What is sextortion?
Sextortion is a form of cyber-enabled extortion where individuals, often young people, are tricked into sharing explicit images or videos, which are then used to blackmail them. Though relatively new to the public discourse in Trinidad and Tobago, Dhoray emphasised that sextortion has been prevalent online for years.
“It’s not new in the space of the internet, but unfortunately, it’s made its way to Trinidad and Tobago,” he explained. The country’s high level of connectivity makes it a prime target. “Many of us have multiple phones, and unlike many of our Caribbean neighbours, we have broadband internet. We take it for granted, but with that comes exposure to both good and bad online interactions.”
How sextortion happens
Dhoray stressed that sextortion criminals—whom he refuses to call mere “hackers” or “scammers,” instead labelling them as “criminals”—employ sophisticated tactics to manipulate victims.
“They befriend vulnerable individuals online, often pretending to be someone their own age or slightly older,” he revealed. “Many kids go online to express feelings they can’t share at home or in school. These criminals exploit that vulnerability, gaining trust before coercing victims into sharing explicit content.”
Once a victim shares an inappropriate image, the situation escalates rapidly. “At that point, it’s the end of the road,” Dhoray stated grimly. The victim is then given two dire options: continue sending explicit material or pay a ransom—often in digital currency such as Bitcoin.
The role of digital payments and gaming networks
A surprising aspect of sextortion is how payments are made. One might assume that teenagers lack access to funds, but Dhoray debunked this notion. “Many kids have their own devices with mobile credit cards stored on them,” he said. “They also use gaming platforms and chat tools like Discord and Twitch, where criminals can infiltrate friend groups and offer ‘free gifts.’ These scams often lead to the acquisition of digital currency, which can be used to pay ransoms.” In some cases, explicit content obtained through sextortion ends up on subscription-based adult content platforms. “We’ve seen cases where teenage girls were blackmailed into continuously sending videos, which were then sold on platforms like OnlyFans,” he said.
Identifying and preventing sextortion
When asked how children and parents can recognise potential threats, Dhoray emphasised the importance of awareness and vigilance.
“It’s easy to say ‘don’t talk to strangers online,’ but when a child is in a vulnerable state, they don’t see the obvious red flags,” he explained. Criminals build deep, manipulative relationships with their targets, even sending gifts to establish trust.
“You might suddenly see your kid with a new phone or shoes. Criminals are inventive—they can arrange deliveries to locations outside of the home to avoid parental detection.”
Parents should look for behavioural changes such as withdrawal, excessive screen time at odd hours, and secrecy. However, Dhoray urged parents to avoid blaming their children. “These criminals can trick even the most intelligent adults. Victims should never feel at fault.”
Legal recourse and challenges
While Trinidad and Tobago has legal provisions against sextortion, Dhoray acknowledged limitations in enforcement. “We have the Offenses Against the Person Act and the Child Protection Act, which address issues like reputational damage, invasion of privacy, and child pornography,” he noted. However, cross-border cybercrime poses significant challenges.
“If the perpetrator is local, our laws can be used to prosecute them,” he said. “But when criminals operate from overseas, law enforcement must rely on Interpol and international agencies, which can be a long and arduous process.”
Moreover, the emotional toll on affected families often hinders the pursuit of justice. “A parent who has just suffered the loss of their child may not have the energy or financial resources to go after an overseas predator,” Dhoray lamented.
Moving forward: education and awareness
The interview concluded with a call for stronger education and preventative measures. “We need to better prepare teenagers to recognise these threats,” Dhoray stressed. Schools, parents, and policymakers must work together to provide digital literacy training and mental health support for at-risk youth.