Content Advisory: This article discusses sensitive topics related to exploitation and online crimes.
Engaging in fraudulent activities to deceive individuals into sending money is a full-time occupation for a self-proclaimed scammer known as “John.”
“We actively search for potential targets on platforms like Facebook or Instagram,” John disclosed to CBC’s investigative series, Marketplace. “Our approach involves scanning accounts of celebrities and their followers, then initiating contact.”
John operates within the network of “Yahoo Boys” in Nigeria, where their schemes involve manipulating teenagers into sharing explicit images and subsequently using these as leverage for financial gain.
Living discreetly in Lagos, John agreed to share insights with Marketplace anonymously to shed light on the operations of these scammers.
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To delve deeper into this investigation, tune in to ‘The Sextortion Network’ on YouTube, CBC TV, or CBC Gem this Friday at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. in Newfoundland).
Recent reports indicate a surge in sextortion cases in Canada since 2021. Confirming this, CBC verified that over the past four years, more than 40 suicides in North America, Australia, and the U.K. were related to sextortion, with five of these incidents occurring in Canada.
Paul Raffile, a researcher specializing in sextortion and cybercrimes from Connecticut, expressed, “This could be considered one of the most heinous scams globally. Exploiting children by coercing them into compromising situations, exploiting them, and extorting them is unparalleled in terms of unethical practices.”
Despite the abhorrent nature of sextortion, scammers like the Yahoo Boys proudly display their riches online, featuring lavish cars, clothing, and money. Additionally, they exchange tips and tricks via platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, sharing guides, scripts, and tools to enhance their extortion tactics, particularly targeting teenagers in Canada and other regions.
When questioned by Marketplace about his victims’ plight, John was evasive, stating, “I am uncertain how to respond to that.”
Expressing his distress over the ongoing criminal activities, Raffile remarked, “Numerous preventive measures could have been implemented to thwart sextortion.”
‘A Heart of Gold’
Ryan Cleland is intimately familiar with the perils of sextortion, having tragically lost his son Carson to this crime.
In 2023, 12-year-old Carson was groomed by an individual on Snapchat posing as a peer. Initially innocuous conversations swiftly turned explicit, leading Carson to share nude images.
Subsequently, the perpetrator resorted to blackmail, demanding gift cards â a common untraceable form of payment. Despite Carson’s attempts to comply, the sextorter claimed the payment was inadequate.
Less than half a day after their initial interaction, Carson took his own life.
Describing his son’s vibrant personality, Cleland reminisced, “Carson was a lively, spirited
