{"id":31881,"date":"2026-03-20T12:27:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/?p=31881"},"modified":"2026-03-20T12:27:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:27:09","slug":"swiped-right-and-blackmailed-the-rise-of-sextortion-on-dating-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/swiped-right-and-blackmailed-the-rise-of-sextortion-on-dating-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiped Right\u2026 and Blackmailed? The Rise of \u201cSextortion\u201d on Dating Apps"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-31881\" data-postid=\"31881\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-31881 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    \t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_h4sr382 tb_first tf_w\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_rujz382 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_m0bk320 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-31317\" title=\"arizona-online-dating-scam\" alt=\"arizona-online-dating-scam\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_bone558   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n\t    <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t<p data-start=\"182\" data-end=\"266\">Dating apps are supposed to be fun. Flirty. Maybe a little chaotic.<br data-start=\"249\" data-end=\"252\" \/>Not\u2026 criminal.<\/p><p data-start=\"268\" data-end=\"412\">But a recent report from KTLA highlights a growing threat users need to know about: <strong data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"412\">\u201csextortion\u201d scams targeting people on dating platforms.<\/strong><\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"17pvpcw\" data-start=\"414\" data-end=\"444\">What\u2019s actually happening?<\/h3><p data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"589\">According to local authorities, scammers are posing as attractive matches on dating and social media apps. The playbook is fast and calculated:<\/p><ul data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"719\"><li data-section-id=\"b10dh6\" data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"614\"><p data-start=\"593\" data-end=\"614\">They match with you<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"u3th5i\" data-start=\"615\" data-end=\"645\"><p data-start=\"617\" data-end=\"645\">Things turn flirty quickly<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"101wwgr\" data-start=\"646\" data-end=\"689\"><p data-start=\"648\" data-end=\"689\">They push for explicit photos or videos<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1vt6qnz\" data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"719\"><p data-start=\"692\" data-end=\"719\">And then the switch flips<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"831\">Suddenly, you\u2019re being threatened: pay up, or they\u2019ll send those images to your friends, family, or followers.<\/p><p data-start=\"833\" data-end=\"997\">This type of scam\u2014known as <strong data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"874\">sextortion<\/strong>\u2014isn\u2019t new, but police say cases are rising and often originate on dating apps before moving to texting or other platforms.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"2f043e\" data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1045\">Why it works (and why it\u2019s not your fault)<\/h3><p data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1087\">These scammers are good at what they do.<\/p><p data-start=\"1089\" data-end=\"1279\">They\u2019re not just random bots\u2014they build quick emotional trust, create urgency, and exploit a moment when someone lets their guard down. In many cases, victims are manipulated within minutes.<\/p><p data-start=\"1281\" data-end=\"1380\">And once an image is sent, scammers use fear and embarrassment to keep victims quiet and compliant.<\/p><p data-start=\"1382\" data-end=\"1472\">So let\u2019s be very clear:<br data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1408\" \/>Falling for this doesn\u2019t make someone naive\u2014it makes them human.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1x5r6pv\" data-start=\"1474\" data-end=\"1500\">Red flags to watch for<\/h3><p data-start=\"1502\" data-end=\"1547\">If you\u2019re dating online, keep an eye out for:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1798\"><li data-section-id=\"jxqott\" data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1590\"><p data-start=\"1551\" data-end=\"1590\">Someone pushing intimacy way too fast<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"uvpdus\" data-start=\"1591\" data-end=\"1662\"><p data-start=\"1593\" data-end=\"1662\">Requests to move off the app immediately (WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc.)<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"8cchts\" data-start=\"1663\" data-end=\"1697\"><p data-start=\"1665\" data-end=\"1697\">Profiles that seem too perfect<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1xyey80\" data-start=\"1698\" data-end=\"1748\"><p data-start=\"1700\" data-end=\"1748\">Pressure to send photos or \u201cprove you\u2019re real\u201d<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1o2xe4z\" data-start=\"1749\" data-end=\"1798\"><p data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1798\">Threats or aggressive behavior out of nowhere<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"1800\" data-end=\"1843\">If anything feels off, trust that instinct.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1d7y3vj\" data-start=\"1845\" data-end=\"1873\">What to do if it happens<\/h3><p data-start=\"1875\" data-end=\"1937\">If you (or someone you know) gets caught in a sextortion scam:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1939\" data-end=\"2170\"><li data-section-id=\"5mtewm\" data-start=\"1939\" data-end=\"1983\"><p data-start=\"1941\" data-end=\"1983\">Do not pay (it often makes things worse)<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"17j1t51\" data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2015\"><p data-start=\"1986\" data-end=\"2015\">Stop responding immediately<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"116f07t\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2068\"><p data-start=\"2018\" data-end=\"2068\">Save evidence (screenshots, usernames, messages)<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"xyp2x3\" data-start=\"2069\" data-end=\"2102\"><p data-start=\"2071\" data-end=\"2102\">Report the account on the app<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"14dzn67\" data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2170\"><p data-start=\"2105\" data-end=\"2170\">Contact local authorities or the appropriate reporting channels<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2248\">And most importantly, tell someone you trust. These scams thrive on silence.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1bebzly\" data-start=\"2250\" data-end=\"2289\">Want a deeper dive on staying safe?<\/h3><p data-start=\"2291\" data-end=\"2391\">We broke down even more tips, tricks, and real-world examples in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/dont-get-played-how-to-avoid-scammers-on-dating-apps\/\">guide to spotting online scams.<\/a> It\u2019s worth the read.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1ow87hb\" data-start=\"2468\" data-end=\"2525\">\u00a0<\/h3><p data-start=\"2527\" data-end=\"2613\">We\u2019re all here for the butterflies, the banter, the \u201cshould I text them back?\u201d energy.<\/p><p data-start=\"2615\" data-end=\"2629\">Not blackmail.<\/p><p data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2745\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\">At OBC,<\/a> we\u2019re all about keeping things fun and safe\u2014so you can focus on meeting real people, not dodging scammers.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dating apps are supposed to be fun. Flirty. Maybe a little chaotic.Not\u2026 criminal.But a recent report from KTLA highlights a growing threat users need to know about: \u201csextortion\u201d scams targeting people on dating platforms.What\u2019s actually happening?According to local authorities, scammers are posing as attractive matches on dating and social media apps. The playbook is fast [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dating-and-sex","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"<img src=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam.jpg\" title=\"arizona-online-dating-scam\" alt=\"arizona-online-dating-scam\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/arizona-online-dating-scam-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"182\" data-end=\"266\">Dating apps are supposed to be fun. Flirty. Maybe a little chaotic.<br data-start=\"249\" data-end=\"252\" \/>Not\u2026 criminal.<\/p><p data-start=\"268\" data-end=\"412\">But a recent report from KTLA highlights a growing threat users need to know about: <strong data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"412\">\u201csextortion\u201d scams targeting people on dating platforms.<\/strong><\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"17pvpcw\" data-start=\"414\" data-end=\"444\">What\u2019s actually happening?<\/h3><p data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"589\">According to local authorities, scammers are posing as attractive matches on dating and social media apps. The playbook is fast and calculated:<\/p><ul data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"719\"><li data-section-id=\"b10dh6\" data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"614\"><p data-start=\"593\" data-end=\"614\">They match with you<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"u3th5i\" data-start=\"615\" data-end=\"645\"><p data-start=\"617\" data-end=\"645\">Things turn flirty quickly<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"101wwgr\" data-start=\"646\" data-end=\"689\"><p data-start=\"648\" data-end=\"689\">They push for explicit photos or videos<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1vt6qnz\" data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"719\"><p data-start=\"692\" data-end=\"719\">And then the switch flips<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"831\">Suddenly, you\u2019re being threatened: pay up, or they\u2019ll send those images to your friends, family, or followers.<\/p><p data-start=\"833\" data-end=\"997\">This type of scam\u2014known as <strong data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"874\">sextortion<\/strong>\u2014isn\u2019t new, but police say cases are rising and often originate on dating apps before moving to texting or other platforms.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"2f043e\" data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1045\">Why it works (and why it\u2019s not your fault)<\/h3><p data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1087\">These scammers are good at what they do.<\/p><p data-start=\"1089\" data-end=\"1279\">They\u2019re not just random bots\u2014they build quick emotional trust, create urgency, and exploit a moment when someone lets their guard down. In many cases, victims are manipulated within minutes.<\/p><p data-start=\"1281\" data-end=\"1380\">And once an image is sent, scammers use fear and embarrassment to keep victims quiet and compliant.<\/p><p data-start=\"1382\" data-end=\"1472\">So let\u2019s be very clear:<br data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1408\" \/>Falling for this doesn\u2019t make someone naive\u2014it makes them human.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1x5r6pv\" data-start=\"1474\" data-end=\"1500\">Red flags to watch for<\/h3><p data-start=\"1502\" data-end=\"1547\">If you\u2019re dating online, keep an eye out for:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1798\"><li data-section-id=\"jxqott\" data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1590\"><p data-start=\"1551\" data-end=\"1590\">Someone pushing intimacy way too fast<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"uvpdus\" data-start=\"1591\" data-end=\"1662\"><p data-start=\"1593\" data-end=\"1662\">Requests to move off the app immediately (WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc.)<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"8cchts\" data-start=\"1663\" data-end=\"1697\"><p data-start=\"1665\" data-end=\"1697\">Profiles that seem too perfect<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1xyey80\" data-start=\"1698\" data-end=\"1748\"><p data-start=\"1700\" data-end=\"1748\">Pressure to send photos or \u201cprove you\u2019re real\u201d<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1o2xe4z\" data-start=\"1749\" data-end=\"1798\"><p data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1798\">Threats or aggressive behavior out of nowhere<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"1800\" data-end=\"1843\">If anything feels off, trust that instinct.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1d7y3vj\" data-start=\"1845\" data-end=\"1873\">What to do if it happens<\/h3><p data-start=\"1875\" data-end=\"1937\">If you (or someone you know) gets caught in a sextortion scam:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1939\" data-end=\"2170\"><li data-section-id=\"5mtewm\" data-start=\"1939\" data-end=\"1983\"><p data-start=\"1941\" data-end=\"1983\">Do not pay (it often makes things worse)<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"17j1t51\" data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2015\"><p data-start=\"1986\" data-end=\"2015\">Stop responding immediately<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"116f07t\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2068\"><p data-start=\"2018\" data-end=\"2068\">Save evidence (screenshots, usernames, messages)<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"xyp2x3\" data-start=\"2069\" data-end=\"2102\"><p data-start=\"2071\" data-end=\"2102\">Report the account on the app<\/p><\/li><li data-section-id=\"14dzn67\" data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2170\"><p data-start=\"2105\" data-end=\"2170\">Contact local authorities or the appropriate reporting channels<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2248\">And most importantly, tell someone you trust. These scams thrive on silence.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1bebzly\" data-start=\"2250\" data-end=\"2289\">Want a deeper dive on staying safe?<\/h3><p data-start=\"2291\" data-end=\"2391\">We broke down even more tips, tricks, and real-world examples in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/dont-get-played-how-to-avoid-scammers-on-dating-apps\/\">guide to spotting online scams.<\/a> It\u2019s worth the read.<\/p><h3 data-section-id=\"1ow87hb\" data-start=\"2468\" data-end=\"2525\">\u00a0<\/h3><p data-start=\"2527\" data-end=\"2613\">We\u2019re all here for the butterflies, the banter, the \u201cshould I text them back?\u201d energy.<\/p><p data-start=\"2615\" data-end=\"2629\">Not blackmail.<\/p><p data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2745\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\">At OBC,<\/a> we\u2019re all about keeping things fun and safe\u2014so you can focus on meeting real people, not dodging scammers.<\/p>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31881"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31881"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31883,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31881\/revisions\/31883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinebootycall.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}