{"id":6774,"date":"2024-07-10T16:21:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T20:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.digitalforensics.com\/blog\/?p=6774"},"modified":"2025-02-12T22:32:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T22:32:37","slug":"morocco-sextortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digitalforensics.com\/blog\/sextortion-online\/morocco-sextortion\/","title":{"rendered":"Moroccan Sextortion Scams: What To Do If You’re a Target"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2016, A British study identified Morocco, specifically the city of Qued Zem, as a significant center of criminal activities involving financial sextortion<\/a>(1)<\/sup>. As years have gone on and other players in the sextortion economy have added other major players into the mix, Morocco remains a home for many professional scammers that coerce and blackmail for profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morocco itself appears to harbor a large number of sextortionists. This appears to be an issue of failure to arrest the individuals and the ease at which the criminals can access money through transfer agencies. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scammers seek the internet as a means to operate because they can hide behind layers of anonymity. Protective barriers of fake accounts, imitation, and deception allow an individual to operate almost anywhere. Their ability to target those living outside the country means they can operate without fear of extradition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Is a Moroccan Sextortion Scam?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Moroccan sextortion scam is similar to one that may take place anywhere else in the world. Morocco has become synonymous with sextortion scams because of its lack of action on the issue. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sextortion scam is a blend of online blackmail<\/a> and catfishing<\/a>. The scammers seek out sexual content that they can use against their victims in order to get money.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A disguise is an important part of the sextortion scam. The scammer must build out a believable profile of the person they will become. They create fake emails, fake accounts, and fake names for their profile. The sextortionist will steal pictures from an attractive person and build a persona to be used online against their victim.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extortion<\/a> portion of a sextortion scam is the extortionist’s ability to use some sort of leverage against their victim. Sextortionists look to blackmail to get their victims to pay them money. They rely on shame tactics and threats to get their victims to comply with their demands.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How Does a Moroccan Sextortion Scam Work?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sextortionists gravitate toward social media and dating apps<\/a>. Social media scams<\/a> may have stalked victims who feel like they\u2019re being targeted. They\u2019ll send a friend request out of the blue and engage in a friendly conversation. Some scammers specialize in certain social media apps or sites, such as Facebook, where it has become commonplace to target elderly users.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the dating scene, there are plenty of apps that don\u2019t require payment and verification. Because these accounts are free to create, they entice users to try them out, but that also means that scammers can operate them for free. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sextortionist will use a dating app to match with as many people as they can and use false information in their profile to appear relevant. They may often put that they\u2019re in \u201ctraveling mode\u201d for the apps that show their true location or distance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a connection is made with their target, the sextortionist will likely ask to take the conversation to a messaging app. Moving to a messaging app is a hallmark of many dating scams<\/a>, as it allows them to engage in sexual behavior and exchange content outside the dating platform’s safety filters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sextortionist may send sexual content and ask for some in exchange,- a point where a scammer asks for private pictures<\/a> or videos to gain leverage. When their victim supplies pictures, videos, or text, these images and videos will be saved through screen recordings and screenshots. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sextortionist will investigate their target by using the details in their profile to find out who they are and who their friends and family are. If possible, they will even dig up information about where they work and who their colleagues are. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The content and information they have about their victim will be used to blackmail them. The scammer will <\/span>demand money<\/span><\/a> in exchange for keeping silent.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Can I Do If I\u2019m a Target of Sextortion?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you or a loved one has been involved with a sextortionist, it\u2019s important to <\/span>seek help<\/span>. If the scammer is demanding money, do not pay. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this experience is frightening, most sextortionists do not act on their threats. If money has already been exchanged for fear of exposure, the scammers will continue to harass their victims.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the main reasons a sextortionist will not make good on their threat is that they risk losing money. A victim will not be likely to pay their scammer if the threat is carried out. There\u2019s still a possibility that the pictures will be released regardless. If the victim is aware of the threat being acted upon, they will likely stop communicating.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other main reason a sextortionist won\u2019t release the content is that they don\u2019t want to draw attention. If government agencies get involved, they risk facing legal ramifications. If the scammer is in possession of sexual images of a minor, this could escalate the issue even further for them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or someone you know needs help, here are a few quick steps to take:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n