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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

DS17 inappropriate photos shared on Instagram help please - blackmail

37 replies

helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 00:03

Got my DS17 in tears here. He very stupidly shared some photos to a girl (he thought) on Instagram and now she's followed all his followers and sending them the photos one by one. She asking for £400. He's beside himself. We're on the phone to the police.

He's now blocked the account. Anyone got any advice? His mental health is a bit shaky and he was just started to feel better after Covid angst.

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Skiptheheartsandflowers · 06/05/2022 00:09

That's horrible. I am sorry. Can't really advise but you're right to speak to the police. Report the account to Instagram too. Can you send a message saying you are reporting them to the police? Has he any idea who the person behind this could be?

earsup · 06/05/2022 00:09

Well very foolish if she continues to send them out after police involved....did you tell this person it was going to police...??

Antarcticant · 06/05/2022 00:15

You're doing the right thing by contacting the police. Do not give any money under any circumstances. Seek urgent help for your son if this is bringing on a mental health crisis.

If the blackmailer realises they are not going to get any money - which, if your son has blocked them, hopefully is a penny that will quickly drop - they will probably stop wasting their time sending photos to his followers so they can move onto the next victim.

Flowers to your son as he is not the first and sadly won't be the last - these scams are rife and people of all ages and walks of life fall for them, simply because most people are decent folk and don't have the mindset of these scum-of-the-earth scammers.

starray · 06/05/2022 00:18

So sorry to hear this. Perhaps he could tell anyone who has received the photos that they are fake and have been tampered with. That would be entirely plausible.

Threetulips · 06/05/2022 00:19

I’ve just heard about a local 63 year old woman doing the same thing and being blackmailed for £3000, where would it stop?

Antarcticant · 06/05/2022 00:21

starray · 06/05/2022 00:18

So sorry to hear this. Perhaps he could tell anyone who has received the photos that they are fake and have been tampered with. That would be entirely plausible.

Indeed it would. If so minded, anyone could fake a photograph/video allegedly showing someone in a compromising position.

mumwithtwinsandfriends · 06/05/2022 00:25

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Ihatethenewlook · 06/05/2022 00:28

??

Chgl92 · 06/05/2022 00:29

If these were nudes, etc, this person is distributing "child pornography"/child sex abuse images as your son is under 18. Hopefully that makes the police act a bit faster.

Antarcticant · 06/05/2022 00:30

was this the "photo" he sent?

Eh? Totally non-compromising photo of random bloke in sunglasses?

ChateauMargaux · 06/05/2022 00:33

He could contact all of his followers and suggest they block this person - explaining that she is blackmailing him.

Original poster
helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 00:41

He’s got 500 followers

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Hellopello · 06/05/2022 00:45

Tell your son that there is nothing permanent in this universe except change and ' this too shall pass

Your son has nothing to be ashamed of ; he is not the first nor shall he be the last
My heart goes out to you and your son

I think it would be wise to arrange a catch up with his best friends, at a neutral place like a cafe or a fast food place. He needs to check in with his buddies and start again with out the bad feelings that this blackmailer wants him to go through

SubParbanMum · 06/05/2022 00:45

Can understand if you don’t want to but you could share their account @ here and we can all help you report the account. Might resolve it quickly whilst you speak to the police?

gomble12 · 06/05/2022 00:47

Does she know you've gone to the police? I would let her know.

Original poster
helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 00:50

We’ve called the police and someone is calling back tomorrow. He told the person he was calling the police.

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gomble12 · 06/05/2022 00:50

I would announce to my followers that someone I trusted blah blah is blackmailing me & we are in touch with the police. If you receive any photos please delete, maybe tag her in it so she's outed. Are they from the same school, does he know the school as I would contact the safeguarding team there too.

Original poster
helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 00:51

Ps thanks for the support.

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Original poster
helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 00:51

I’ve also reported the account to
Instagram

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twoandcooplease · 06/05/2022 00:53

That's so sad. I feel bad for your ds

I worked in a bank fraud department and often got calls from customers who had stories just like this. Sent the mm money trying to claim it back. It's so fucking low to do that to someone

gomble12 · 06/05/2022 00:53

hope hes ok & she gets her comeuppance

gomble12 · 06/05/2022 00:55

I would contact all her followers & show them what she's done, push the shame back on her.

OuchitHurtstoomuch · 06/05/2022 01:04

Have you reported the image as child pornography on the site? Might that get immediate action. I'm guessing the type of photos?

Original poster
helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 01:07

It doesn’t let me report as child pornography unfortunately. Just sharing of inappropriate images.

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Original poster
helphelphelpplease · 06/05/2022 01:08

I think it’s probably a made up account. It’s American .

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