Jena, 21.05.2026 – A 22-year-old man from Jena has become the victim of online extortion after having contact with an unknown person via social networks.
- Crime Scene: Jena (digital space, originating from social media / messenger)
- Time of Incident: Recently (investigation reported on 21.05.2026)
- Amount of Damage: 1,250 Euro as well as credit codes (Apple Pay / gift cards)
- Investigating Agency: Kriminalpolizei Jena
The Course of the Extortion
As reported by the police, a previously unknown person contacted the young man via a social media platform. The chat was subsequently moved to a messenger service. There, the two exchanged so-called “one-time images” – photos intended to be automatically deleted after opening.
A short time later, the unknown person confronted the 22-year-old with a screenshot of an alleged nude photo of him. According to the victim, this was a manipulated image. The perpetrator threatened to send the image to the victim’s friends, family members, and acquaintances unless he paid. Out of fear of publication, the young man transferred a total of 1,250 Euro and additionally provided credit codes for Apple Pay and gift cards.
Investigation by the Kriminalpolizei
After the individual contacted the police, the Kriminalpolizei took over the investigation into extortion. Officers point out that in this scam, known as “sextortion,” perpetrators specifically exploit the feelings of shame and fear of their victims to build financial pressure.
Prevention & Advice: How do I protect myself from sextortion?
The Jena police and victim protection organizations regularly warn about the dangers online. In so-called sextortion (a portmanteau of sex and extortion), the perpetrators usually act highly professionally.
Important behavioral tips for prevention:
- Do not accept friend requests from strangers.
- Be cautious about publishing and sending intimate recordings, even with supposedly secure “one-time functions” of messengers – screenshots are possible at any time.
- Adjust your privacy settings on social networks so that strangers cannot view your friend list. This makes it harder for extortionists to select contacts for threats.
What to do if you are already being extorted?
- Do not pay any money: Experience shows that extortion usually does not stop after a payment; instead, the financial demands increase.
- Secure evidence: Create screenshots of the chats, the perpetrators’ profiles, the payment requests, and the bank details or email addresses used.
- Break off contact: Block the extortionist on all channels and do not respond to further messages.
- File a report: Contact your nearest police station immediately. Officers are trained in handling such offenses and treat cases confidentially. Victims can also find help from the nationwide victim support association Weisser Ring.
Source:
Extorted with manipulated visual material
Transparency note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.