GEORGE NEWS - "I hope you are ready, because your life will never be the same again."
This was the chilling message a mother from George received earlier this week after her minor daughter had narrowly avoided becoming the victim of a sextortion scam.
Following this incident, parents and teenagers in the George area are being urged to stay vigilant against this growing online threat. In this case, the perpetrator is believed to have used a fake WhatsApp profile to contact the victim and start extorting her.
George Herald repeatedly attempted to contact the man for comment using the numbers he allegedly used, but without success.
These scams often involve perpetrators contacting young people on social media or messaging platforms, claiming to possess compromising photos or videos, and then attempting to manipulate or extort them or their families.
George Herald spoke to the mother after seeing her post on Facebook. "She [her daughter] doesn't want to talk about the experience or the man; she gets upset. I also went through her phone. There's nothing funny, no photos or videos that he can use to blackmail anyone with. This was an outright scam, and it's time parents realise just how serious this threat is," she said.
Threats
The man had allegedly contacted the minor, claiming he had certain compromising photos or videos, and threatened to post them online if she didn't do as he said, or if she blocked or reported him. The individual reportedly used the name 'Revaldo' in his communications.
Scammers typically use fear tactics, sending threatening messages or pressuring recipients to share verification codes, links or access to personal accounts.
These codes, if shared, can allow criminals to take over social media accounts or gain access to sensitive information and online banking apps.
These scams are rarely based on any real content. Instead, perpetrators rely on intimidation and urgency to coerce teenagers or their families into complying.
Safety tips
Never share verification codes or passwords with anyone, avoid opening suspicious links or downloading unknown files, limit communication with strangers on social media, and always save screenshots and report any suspicious behaviour to the authorities.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to have open conversations with their children about online safety, encouraging them to report anything unusual or threatening.
These incidents should be reported to the police or the Film and Publication Board (FPB), which handles online exploitation of minors.
Online predators often target teenagers because they may be less experienced with online risks.
Screenshots of the WhatsApp messages. ‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
