Nationwide has issued a warning that sextortion scams could 'ruin your life' for customers aged 13 to 70. The UK's biggest building society, which has branches in Birmingham, released the warning on Friday, April 24, following an analysis of 50 cases that found scammers zeroing in on young men.
Key Findings from Nationwide's Analysis
The analysis reveals that high school and university students are being targeted on average nearly twice a week, or seven times a month. Many victims admit to sharing intimate images, and over a quarter have shared private information. The warning highlights that 71 percent of 16-to-24-year-olds are the most worried about younger people sharing images, compared with 60 percent of all ages. Additionally, 22 percent of high school, secondary, or university students have been scammed and find scams harder to spot.
Demographics of Victims
Those targeted range from 13 to 70 years old, with an average age of just 25. Nearly half of victims are between 20 and 29, and 98 percent of those identified were male. Men in their twenties are considered most at risk.
Expert Comments and Victim Story
Jim Winters, Head of Economic Crime at Nationwide, said: “These cases illustrate how scammers exploit vulnerability, urgency, and shame, especially among younger people who may have limited experience with fraud or feel too embarrassed to ask for help early. Our insight and research shows how easily private and sensitive information can be used against us. The safest way to protect yourself is not to share anything that you wouldn’t want in the wrong hands. Maybe easier said than done but the damage caused here is far beyond financial.”
One victim, whose name has been changed to Sean, was targeted after meeting someone on Tinder. He told Nationwide: “They said they’d ruin my life.” After developing a relationship online and exchanging images and video calls, he received a threatening call demanding money. The scammer instructed him to download money transfer apps and share his screen through WhatsApp and Instagram. Once the first payment was made, further threats followed.
