"I'll send your photos to everyone you know." That terrifying threat is reaching more people in Japan than anywhere else on Earth. A new analysis by Norton reveals Japan has the world's highest risk of sextortion scams, and the threat is only growing with AI. Here's what's happening, and how to protect yourself and your children.

What Is Sextortion?

Sextortion is a form of cybercrime that combines "sex" and "extortion." Perpetrators obtain or claim to possess intimate images or videos of their victims, then threaten to distribute them unless demands, typically for money or additional explicit content, are met. What makes sextortion particularly devastating is that victims often blame themselves, making them reluctant to seek help.

According to analysis published in April 2025 by Norton (a Gen Digital brand), Japan had the world's highest risk ratio for sextortion scams in 2024 at 0.91%, outpacing Singapore (0.77%) and Hong Kong (0.57%).

Here are the top 10 countries by sextortion risk ratio:

Rank Country Risk Ratio
1 Japan 0.91%
2 Singapore 0.77%
3 Hong Kong 0.57%
4 South Africa 0.54%
5 Italy 0.54%
6 Australia 0.47%
7 United Arab Emirates 0.47%
8 United Kingdom 0.47%
9 Switzerland 0.40%
10 Czech Republic 0.40%

The U.S. saw sextortion targeting rates jump 137% in early 2025, while Australia experienced a 34% increase, a sign that this is a rapidly escalating global problem.

Why Japan Tops the List

Several factors unique to Japan's digital landscape explain why the country ranks highest for sextortion risk.

Widespread data breaches and password habits. Japan is one of the world's most connected nations, yet personal cybersecurity awareness often lags behind. Password reuse is common, and stolen credentials from past data breaches circulate widely on the dark web. Scammers use these real passwords in threatening emails, making victims believe their devices have genuinely been compromised.

The culture of shame (haji). In Japanese society, the fear of bringing shame upon oneself and one's family is deeply ingrained. Victims of sexual threats are especially reluctant to report the crime to police or discuss it with others, creating a silence that criminals exploit. This cultural tendency may signal to international criminal networks that Japanese targets are more likely to pay.

LINE's dominance in daily communication. Japan's most-used messaging app, LINE, serves as the primary communication tool for families, friends, and colleagues. Once perpetrators convince a victim to exchange LINE IDs, the victim is psychologically tied to the platform, deleting or blocking the contact feels like severing real-life connections. Criminals understand this dynamic and use it to maintain control.

Evolving Tactics: From Social Media Grooming to AI Deepfakes

A typical sextortion scheme in Japan begins on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, language-learning apps, or dating apps. The perpetrator poses as a peer or romantic interest and gradually builds trust over days or weeks. Eventually, they ask to move the conversation to LINE.

Once on LINE, the grooming intensifies. Flattery like "You look like a model, show me more!" or offers to exchange photos mutually lead the victim to share intimate images. The moment images are sent, the scammer's tone shifts dramatically. Threats follow immediately: "I'll send these to all your followers unless you send me an Apple Gift Card worth $130 (¥20,000)." Some cases involve demands through PayPay, Japan's popular mobile payment service.

AI is making these scams even more dangerous. According to Norton, criminals now use deepfake technology to generate fabricated sexual images from ordinary photos. This means you don't even need to have shared intimate content to become a target. Scammers are also including Google Maps screenshots of victims' homes in threatening emails, with messages like "I know where you live." Payment demands have risen from a few hundred dollars to as much as $2,000.

A Surge in Cases: From Elementary Students to Adults in Their 50s

The domestic impact in Japan is staggering. PAPS (People Against Pornography and Sexual Violence), a Japanese advocacy group, reported that sextortion-related consultations jumped from 131 in 2022 to 528 in 2023, and then to 1,864 in 2024, a more than 14-fold increase in just two years. As of mid-July 2025, the number had already reached 1,066.

Victims span a remarkably wide age range, from elementary school students to men in their 40s and 50s. Notably, male victims are common, challenging assumptions that sextortion primarily targets women. Teenage boys who meet strangers through social media are frequently targeted.

Japanese police data shows that 97.5% of children victimized through social media were accessed via smartphones, and so-called "self-shot" exploitation, where children are tricked or coerced into taking and sharing intimate photos, accounts for roughly 40% of all child pornography cases. In child pornography offenses, suspects in their teens now make up the largest age group, highlighting how the problem has permeated peer relationships.

Protecting Children: What Families, Schools, and Society Can Do

For individuals and families: The most important rule is never to comply with extortion demands. Paying does not guarantee images will be deleted, it often leads to escalating requests. Do not open suspicious email attachments. If threatened, contact police immediately through Japan's cybercrime consultation services. Use unique passwords for every account and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible.

For parents talking with children: Repeatedly emphasize that they should never share personal images with anyone online, regardless of how trustworthy the person seems. Explain that once an image is uploaded to the internet, it is virtually impossible to remove completely. Most importantly, assure them that if something goes wrong, it's not their fault, and they should always come to a trusted adult immediately.

Technical safeguards: Utilize content filtering services and parental control features appropriate to your child's age. Monitor social media use and pay attention to interactions with unknown contacts. Consider dark web monitoring services to check whether personal information may have been exposed in data breaches.

Systemic improvements: In Japan, 37 out of 47 prefectures have enacted ordinances prohibiting the solicitation of self-shot images from minors. The 2023 Sexual Image Recording Punishment Act strengthened legal protections. However, as digital crime evolves faster than legislation, greater international cooperation is needed to address cross-border cybercriminal networks.

The key message: never suffer in silence. If you or someone you know is affected, reach out for help immediately. Prevention through education, open family conversations, and robust cybersecurity habits is the strongest shield we have.

What about in your country? How does your community handle sextortion awareness and online safety for young people? We'd love to hear your perspective.

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