PJ records average of two sexual extortion cases per day in Portugal
The Judicial Police received 732 complaints of sextortion in 2025 and currently maintains approximately 900 open investigations related to this type of cybercrime.
PJ records average of two sexual extortion cases per day in Portugal
The Judicial Police is investigating approximately 900 enquiries related to sexual extortion, a cybercrime that has been increasing significantly in Portugal. In 2025, the police force recorded 732 new complaints of this type, which corresponds to an average of two cases per day.
The scheme follows a recurring pattern: criminals contact victims through social media, establish a relationship of trust and convince them to send intimate images or to take part in sexually explicit video calls. Subsequently, they use the material collected for blackmail, demanding payments under threat of disclosing the content.
One of the documented cases involves a 26-year-old young man who, despite being cautious on social media — with a private profile and without accepting requests from strangers — ended up falling into a trap during a video call with a person he had been communicating with for several weeks.
Sexual extortion, also referred to as sextortion, has become increasingly frequent, taking advantage of the popularity of digital platforms and the emotional vulnerability of users. Authorities warn of the importance of not sharing intimate content online and of immediately reporting any attempted blackmail.
Source: Público
Source: Público