Nationwide Building Society has issued a 'red flag' warning to customers, urging them not to share intimate images or personal details online, according to the bank. The warning comes as a surge in 'sextortion' scams targets young men, Nationwide reported. The bank's analysis of 50 real cases reveals that men in their twenties are most at risk.
Nearly half (47%) of victims are aged 20 to 29, and 98% of victims are male, Nationwide reported. The fraudsters often use dating apps and social media to build trust before blackmailing victims, the bank said. Nationwide says cases typically follow a pattern: victims are approached online, moved to private messaging apps, then blackmailed.
Separate polling of over 2,000 people shows that 71% of 16–24-year-olds are worried about younger people sharing intimate images, according to the survey. Among secondary school and university students, more than one in five (23%) said they had already been scammed, the polling found. Over half (54%) of students believe fraud has become harder to spot, the survey indicated.
The polling also found that 17% of students said they had shared intimate images, and more than a quarter (26%) disclosed private information, according to the survey. These risky behaviors make students particularly vulnerable to sextortion scams, experts warn.
In one case, 'Sean' met someone on Tinder, shared images, and after video calling received a threatening call demanding money, Nationwide reported. The scammer instructed 'Sean' to download payment apps and share his screen via WhatsApp and Instagram, the bank said. Jim Winters, head of economic crime at Nationwide, said the cases illustrate how scammers exploit vulnerability and urgency, especially among younger people who may have limited experience with fraud or feel too embarrassed to ask for help early. He added that the safest way to protect yourself is not to share anything you wouldn't want in the wrong hands.