While all platforms have their vulnerabilities, each one has a certain audience in mind. Snapchat was originally designed for younger audiences to share messages, images, or videos that immediately disappeared. However, this led to an illusion of safety that allowed users to share risky content more freely. Now, sextortion is an epidemic across the country, and Snapchat is one of the main platforms for the crime. If you use the platform, you need to be aware of the risks and how to avoid Snapchat nude scams.
The Risks of Using Snapchat
Snapchat, like other platforms, allows its users to send photos and videos directly to other users. One key difference is that the videos and photos sent are intended to expire after viewing. This can leave many with a false sense of security, leading them to send a nude they believe can’t be saved.
Modern devices can easily screenshot or screen record the content that was sent. The images sent on Snapchat can also be saved by the recipient, and videos can be replayed through the platform. This vulnerability can give cybercriminals the content they need for blackmail.
When someone uses intimate content to threaten a victim with exposure, they are committing a crime known as sextortion. Sextortionists typically threaten to release explicit content to friends, family members, or coworkers. They will often demand a certain amount of money in exchange for keeping the victim’s explicit content private.
What Are Snapchat Nude Scams?
Sextortionists will create fake profiles, a tactic known as catfishing. The perpetrator hides their identity by using pictures and information they stole from other online users. They’ll then initiate sexual conversations with the victim, hoping to eventually trick them into sharing nudes. As a manipulation tactic, the scammer will suggest exchanging explicit content and will go first to build trust. However, in reality, they stole the image or video from someone else.
Online users of all ages and genders are at risk of sextortion. However, experts at Digital Forensic Corp. found that younger people are often more targeted. In our 2025 sextortion study, 18- to 24-year-olds accounted for 27% of all sextortion victims. Similarly, Snapchat has a user base that skews primarily to the same demographic.
With nudes sent to the scammer, the conversation turns into threats. Sextortionists will use any information they gathered in conversation or through research to manipulate and blackmail the victim. Fear and shame are some of their most used weapons. All these tactics are used to force victims into complying with their demands.
How Sextortionists Gather Information on Snapchat
Cybercriminals gather information about their victims before extorting them. They will look through the victim’s public Snapchat posts and stories. During the initial conversation, sextortionists often coax victims into revealing personal information, such as their online profiles or occupation.
Another way they may gather information is with phishing tactics. Phishing is when a scammer pretends to be an individual or organization that the victim is familiar with. They’ll send a message to the victim, steering them to click on malicious links. These links are often filled with malware or they direct victims to a login page designed to capture information.
For example, criminals will pose as Snapchat support and will send victims an email about their account being in trouble. The email will claim that you need to enter your login credentials to protect your Snapchat profile. In reality, cybercriminals created these fake login websites to steal your information and gain access to your sensitive data.
How Can I Protect Myself from Snapchat Nude Scams?
There are many steps you can take to protect yourself and loved ones from Snapchat nude scams. Here are the top things you can do to stay safe:
- Don’t Send Nude Photos on Snapchat. The obvious solution to not becoming a victim of Snapchat nude scams is to avoid sending nudes entirely. Even sending nudes to partners can be a risk. There’s no telling what will happen if your relationship dissolves. The pictures could also be shared against your will to third parties willing to blackmail you.
- Be cautious of what you post publicly. Snapchat profiles now allow users to make public stories and posts that anyone can see. However, this can give blackmailers more information to use against you. Make sure the content on your public profile reveals little or no pertinent information.
- Only Message People You Know. Sextortionists will send friend requests to strangers in an attempt to lure them into their trap. These requests are typically unsolicited and are often the first step to being sextorted. As a rule of thumb, it’s safest to deny any unsolicited friend requests on Snapchat for good measure.
- Vet Your Friends List. Your friends already have access to your private stories and geolocation, if enabled. You need to ensure that the friends that you have already accepted are people that you trust.
- Secure Your Account. Snapchat offers two-factor authentication to secure your account from hackers. This feature allows the platform to verify the identity of a user when they attempt to log in. For example, Snapchat may send a code to a user’s email when they log in for verification. You should also make sure your password is strong and unique to the account.
How to Respond to Snapchat Nude Scams
If you or a loved one has become a victim of Snapchat nude scams, it’s important to act quickly. Taking the appropriate steps in the right order is necessary to protect yourself. The steps below will give you the guidance needed to reduce the risk of the situation escalating.
Preserve Evidence
Begin by documenting as much of the encounter as you can. This can be done by taking screenshots of all messages between the victim and the sextortionist. Screen recording may be beneficial as well. You should also include any conversations that happened outside of Snapchat. This documentation will make it easier to create a timeline of events.
Do Not Comply
You should never pay the blackmailer. Paying them will incentivize the perpetrators to keep in contact with you. They will likely continue to make threats and demand more money from you. The situation could even escalate to sending threats toward co-workers or supervisors for added pressure.
Protect Your Other Social Media Accounts
It’s difficult to know what information your attacker has found about you online. However, limiting their ability to gather information about you restricts the threats they can make. For protection, you should make all your social media accounts private. This way, they won’t be able to threaten to send the content to your close connections.
Report the Sextortionist
Snapchat allows users to report people who abuse the platform. The reporting feature is anonymous, which means the attacker won’t know that you reported them. You can report the perpetrator in two main ways.
How to Report a Profile:
- Visit the user’s profile.
- Click on “Manage Friendship” and then “Report”.
- Select “They’re posting inappropriate content” and then “They leaked/are threatening to leak my nudes”.
How to Report a Message or Content:
- Hold down on the Snap until the menu options pop up.
- Select “Report”.
- Click on “Nudity & Sexual Content” and then “They leaked/are threatening to leak my nudes”.
Contact the Proper Authorities
The authorities take Snapchat nude scams very seriously. Cases involving children will get attention from special divisions and provide extra support. However, seeking help from the authorities is always important to protect yourself and potentially bring the perpetrators to justice. Your local law enforcement is always a great first step. You can report sextortion to your local authorities by visiting the station in person or calling the non-emergency line. Make sure your evidence of the sextortion is well-documented and stored in a secure location.
Furthermore, you should also report the crime to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Sextortionists can operate from anywhere in the world, and the FBI has the international connections to bring them to justice. You can report to the IC3 through their website. For cases involving children, however, you should report to the Cybertipline, which is specifically designed to support minors.
Contact Cybersecurity Experts
Digital forensics engineers, social engineering experts, and lawyers at cybersecurity firms can help fight cybercrime. Certain firms have the tools and track record to bring your assailant to justice.
These experts use proprietary tools to track the digital footprints left behind by sextortionists. This process can unmask the perpetrator and collect the digital evidence you need to take them to court. They can also protect sextortion victims from exposure and mitigate the damage from any non-consensual postings.
If you want an expert team that is dedicated to helping sextortion victims, contact Digital Forensics Corp. We have the expertise and experience to protect you from cybercriminals. Our sextortion helpline is also available 24/7. Take back control of your life today with Digital Forensics Corp. by your side.
