$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
deepfake sextortion scam
Scammers use AI deepfake technology to create realistic but fabricated explicit images or videos of the victim from their public photos, then demand payment to prevent distribution.
“sextortion scam”
↑ 73%Key indicators
Usually targetsTeenagers
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$900
median reported loss
Typical range$180 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~5%
Annual reports26,718
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers scrape publicly available photos from social media profiles.
2
AI tools generate realistic explicit images by superimposing the victim's face onto fabricated content.
3
The scammer contacts the victim with the fake images and demands cryptocurrency payment to prevent distribution to friends, family, or employers.
What to do first
Do not pay — the images are fabricated and paying does not guarantee deletion.
Related terms
AI-generated sextortionsynthetic image blackmailface-swap extortionSextortion scamsSocial mediaRisingTeenagersYoung adultsAdultsEducators and studentsParents and familiesUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAI-generated sextortionsynthetic image blackmail
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Michael, 17, a teenagers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate sextortion scams situation while using Social media. Scammers scrape publicly available photos from social media profiles.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: AI tools generate realistic explicit images by superimposing the victim's face onto fabricated content.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scammer contacts the victim with the fake images and demands cryptocurrency payment to prevent distribution to friends, family, or employers.
The outcome
Michael realized something was wrong when explicit images appear realistic but victim never took them. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Do not pay — the images are fabricated and paying does not guarantee deletion. Michael's experience shows why explicit images appear realistic but victim never took them and scammer references public social media photos as source material are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Explicit images appear realistic but victim never took them
- Scammer references public social media photos as source material
- Demands escalate rapidly — payment first, then silence money
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Do not pay — the images are fabricated and paying does not guarantee deletion.
- ✓Report to the FBI IC3 and the platform where contact was made; request takedowns on any site hosting the images.
- ✓Document everything and consult with law enforcement — many jurisdictions now have specific deepfake laws.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FBI issued a public service announcement in 2023 warning about the increasing use of AI-generated deepfakes in sextortion schemes targeting both adults and minors.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Do not pay — the images are fabricated and paying does not guarantee deletion.
- ✓Report to the FBI IC3 and the platform where contact was made; request takedowns on any site hosting the images.
- ✓Document everything and consult with law enforcement — many jurisdictions now have specific deepfake laws.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FBI issued a public service announcement in 2023 warning about the increasing use of AI-generated deepfakes in sextortion schemes targeting both adults and minors.
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Teenagers, Young adults, Adults, Professionals
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Social media — Sextortion scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Teenagers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FBI issued a public service announcement in 2023 warning about the increasing use of AI-generated deepfakes in sextortion schemes targeting both adults and minors.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about deepfake sextortion scam
How does the deepfake sextortion scam work?+
Scammers scrape publicly available photos from social media profiles. AI tools generate realistic explicit images by superimposing the victim's face onto fabricated content. The scammer contacts the victim with the fake images and demands cryptocurrency payment to prevent distribution to friends, family, or employers.
What are the warning signs of deepfake sextortion scam?+
Explicit images appear realistic but victim never took them Scammer references public social media photos as source material Demands escalate rapidly — payment first, then silence money
What should I do if I encounter deepfake sextortion scam?+
Do not pay — the images are fabricated and paying does not guarantee deletion. Report to the FBI IC3 and the platform where contact was made; request takedowns on any site hosting the images. Document everything and consult with law enforcement — many jurisdictions now have specific deepfake laws.
Who is most at risk for deepfake sextortion scam?+
This scam primarily targets Teenagers, Young adults, Adults, Professionals. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Social media.
Is deepfake sextortion scam on the rise?+
deepfake sextortion scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.