Exploited by Image: Grooming, Blackmail and Control

Why attend?

This course is designed for parents, safeguarding professionals, and anyone working with children and young people. It provides the learner with a clear understanding of sextortion, a form of online abuse where coercion, manipulation and threats are used to control their victims. Sextortion almost always involves the sharing of private images. Using real-life examples, we’ll explore how children and young people may encounter this form of abuse and the impact it has on their lives. The course also offers practical advice, resources, and strategies to help protect and support the children in your care. By the end of this training, you’ll be equipped to recognise and respond to this type of abuse effectively.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Understand what sextortion is and the different forms it can take, including the use of real and AI-generated images.

• Identify those most at risk, such as children and young people.

• Learn about the laws surrounding sextortion.

• Recognise the emotional, social, and financial impact sextortion has on victims.

• Apply your knowledge to identify potential cases of sextortion and provide effective support to children and young people.

Why is this relevant to most people?

Sextortion is a grave form of online blackmail where perpetrators threaten to share intimate images or videos of you unless you comply with their demands, which often involve sending money, more explicit content, or performing unwanted actions

Have you heard of catfishing?

In today’s interconnected world, online connections offer incredible opportunities, but they also come with inherent risks. One of the most insidious forms of digital deception is “catfishing,” where someone creates a fake online identity to manipulate or deceive others.