A SCAMMER threatened to post nude images of an married man online unless he sent them money in a “sextortion” case.

It comes as more than 100 people have reported sextortion cases in Sussex in the first eight months of the year.

Police have issued a warning about the dangers associated with interacting with unknown people online after a father from Hastings was scammed and threatened.

Sextortion is a form of blackmail where a criminal threatens to reveal intimate images of a victim online unless they give in to their demands - typically for money or further images.

Of the victims in the county in 2021, 69 per cent have been under the age of 29.

The Hastings man - identified only as Mr X - has spoken out about his experience after sharing naked photographs with a woman over the internet.

Mr X, who is in his 60s, was told that unless he sent money, she would put naked photos online for his friends and neighbours to see, adding, “good luck, everyone will know”.

The man told his wife and daughter and despite the demands, refused to send money.

The images were deleted once made clear the police had been contacted, but Mr X says he felt “foolish”, and the experience made him feel very low and depressed.

Mr X was assigned a fraud caseworker specialising in providing emotional and practical support to medium and high-risk victims of fraud and scams.

According to Sussex Police, 106 reports of sextortion were reported in the first eight months of the year, with a total loss of £14,939.

Almost all (92 per cent) of victims were men - 60 in West Sussex, 32 in East Sussex and 14 in Brighton and Hove.

PC Bernadette Lawrie, a Surrey and Sussex financial abuse safeguarding officer, said criminals often befriend victims online by using a fake identity and then persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of their webcam.

“Sextortion is an awful and exploitative crime, commonly carried out through social media sites,” she said.

“It causes extreme distress to victims who may feel too embarrassed to come forward and report the incidents.

"Although it can be committed by individuals, organised crime is commonly behind it. Perpetrators can be located anywhere, with many based overseas. Those viewing, downloading or forwarding any such material are committing further serious criminal offences.

"Please be wary of requests from strangers online and don't share intimate videos or engage in sexual activity with people you don't know.”

She said victims are typically contacted on social media platforms, mainly Facebook and Instagram. Then they are then often asked to move to platforms such as Google Hangouts and WhatsApp.

Payments are often made to fraudsters via PayPal, MoneyGram, Western Union, Tap Tap or gift cards.

Anyone who has been the victim of cyber related blackmail is asked to report it to police online, or by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.