Two Nigerian men accused of a social media sextortion that led a 16-year-old Australian boy to die by suicide purported to be a "scantily-clad" white woman, police say.
The alleged scammers, found in a Nigerian slum, were charged with sextortion offences in March after a joint investigation between Australian, South African and Nigerian authorities.
The Australian victim, whose parents do not want to be identified, took his life in 2023 after he shared personal photos with the scammers, who pretended to be a European-looking woman, police allege.
It's alleged the cyber criminals threatened to share the boy's photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500.
Sextortion is a crime that involves online blackmail, where the victim is lured or coerced into sharing private or explicit photos or videos of themselves with the perpetrator, who is often pretending to be a peer or potential romantic interest.
Once the perpetrator has the content, they then threaten to share it with the victim's friends, family or community if they do not pay the blackmail.
Detective superintendent Matthew Craft said at a Monday presser the investigation involved NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police and the FBI. The arrests were made with the assistance of South African and Nigerian authorities.
Craft said the boy interacted with the scammers for six or seven hours after they used a "scattergun" approach to source targets.
Police did not disclose the social media site where the victim met the alleged perpetrators but warned that sextortionists use multiple platforms to engage with victims.
"Every social media platform has been impacted," Craft said.
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"It was certainly two males who were engaging our victim purporting to be a scantily-clad female. In my view looking at her she'd be European of some description," Craft said on Monday.
"It's always the case that there's some scantily-clad female in various states of undress that's provided and that should be a trigger.
"If you're engaging with someone and all of a sudden the conversation becomes sexualised it's an opportunity for you to perhaps disengage."
Major spike in sextortion cases
He warned young Australians to be on the lookout for sex-based e-scammers after a 400 per cent spike in sextortion cases in the past 18 months, in particular targeting young men.
"The good news is people are reporting it and there are steps we can take to help you before it goes too far," Craft said.
"We want young people to continue to report these cases and to never be embarrassed to talk to police."
The alleged offenders will be dealt with in Nigeria where local authorities can prosecute for Australia-based offences, police say.
Craft said there was "clear" evidence gathered by Nigerian authorities on the arrested men's devices that indicated there were victims other than the Australian teenager.
The federal government warns that internet fraud, including fake online friendship, dating and marriage schemes often originates in Nigeria, an impoverished west African nation of 218 million people.
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at and on 1300 22 4636.
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