Sextortion syndicates exploit fear, secrecy, and ego, private investigator reports
via The Citizen4 min read
Sextortion scams are on the rise again, moving beyond online solicitations to include real-world threats, according to private investigator Brad Nathanson. Victims, often men, are entrapped through adult websites or classified ads where they believe they are interacting with genuine sex workers. The scams can involve online chitchat or physical contact, with demands quickly escalating into threats against spouses, employers, and family members. Some victims are identified after visiting establishments, with their personal information obtained through illicit means. Nathanson cited a businessman who paid R650,000 before seeking help. Teenagers are also targeted, primarily through social media entrapment, as seen in a case where a boy was extorted with intimate pictures. Nathanson attributes the scams' continued success to victims' ego and their reluctance to involve law enforcement due to fear of exposure or further consequences. He advises victims to cut off communication immediately and never engage with unsolicited messages, as continued payments rarely resolve the situation and only encourage the extortionists.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.
Online romance and sextortion scams continue to ensnare individuals, particularly men, despite numerous warnings. Scammers employ a manipulation strategy that involves building trust before exploitation. Psychologist Elize Thesner notes that perpetrators identify vulnerabilities in lonely, grieving, isolated individuals, or those seeking care. Scammers patiently build rapport, trust, and emotional connection, showing interest in their target's challenges. This leads to a carefully constructed relationship where victims emotionally invest in a non-existent future, viewing the scammer as a confidant and source of comfort. Psychologist and medical doctor Jonathan Redelinghuys explains that many victims seek intimacy in its broadest sense, not just sex. Sexual content often enters the relationship later, appearing as a natural progression. Emotional attachment can cloud judgment, making it difficult for victims to discern exploitation. Thesner adds that sexual attraction activates the brain's reward systems, reinforcing the relationship and making it harder for victims to recognize warning signs. Scammers also introduce stories of hardship to create a caregiving dynamic, making victims feel like helpers or rescuers. When the deception is exposed, shame becomes a powerful tool, as fear of public humiliation can outweigh financial losses. Thesner concludes that these scams exploit universal human needs like hope, affection, validation, and belonging, effectively weaponizing them.
The ANC's Eastern Cape branch is currently without leadership after the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda declared the appointment of the interim ANC provincial task team PTT invalid and set it aside. This ruling effectively leaves the party's Eastern Cape branch leaderless, as the previous provincial executive committee PEC was dissolved last month in favor of the now-nullified PTT. The party's decision to install the PTT was challenged by three aggrieved members, including Lwazi Rotya, a Ward 24 branch member, who argued that the appointment violated the ANC's constitution and infringed on their contractual rights. Judge Vuyokazi Pamella Noncembu criticized the ANC's conduct, stating that their behavior "strongly suggests a lack of bona fides" and that the issues could have been resolved without costly litigation if the ANC had been transparent with its members. The court also censured the ANC for presenting a contradictory version and a belated resolution to oppose the matter.
Must ReadJulius Malema, leader of the EFF, has expressed support for Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, following her immediate expulsion from the MK party. The MK party also expelled its former national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela. According to MK party spokesperson Sibonelo Nomvalo, the expulsions were due to conduct inconsistent with the party's constitution, with Zuma-Sambudla's public statements and social media posts cited for undermining organizational unity and promoting factional narratives. Malema commended Zuma-Sambudla's strength, stating she has always been strong. Zuma-Sambudla reacted to her expulsion by asserting that while she can be expelled as an ordinary member, she remains a founding member of MK. She criticized what she called a "Libertarian agenda" being hijacked by "rejected politicians" pursuing "narrow-minded capitalist agendas." She also posted on X, referencing a biblical verse and suggesting that some leaders want President Zuma "to eat his own children." Zuma-Sambudla further claimed that those who join the MK movement to undermine or sideline her are not committed to liberation but are pursuing personal gain, attacking accounting officers, and betraying loyalty to Zuma, indicating they are not in MK "for the good of the movement."