Cybercrime researchers have uncovered a disturbing trend where U.S. teenagers are falling victim to sextortion scams orchestrated by Nigerian criminals who employ black magic rituals, including animal sacrifice, to "bless" their operations. These scams, which lure victims into compromising situations and then extort them for money, have been linked to the deaths of at least 40 teenage boys in the U.S. since 2021, according to the U.S. State Department.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports receiving nearly 100 sextortion-related incidents daily, totaling approximately 33,000 annually since 2021. In 2024 alone, Americans lost an estimated $33.5 million to sextortion scams, with the actual figure likely much higher due to underreporting driven by shame.
Nigeria is recognized as a global hub for cyber scams, with overall internet scam losses from the U.S. reaching $16 billion in a recent year, a sum where extortion and cyber fraud were prominent.
Cybercrime expert Paul Raffile and his associate Erin West, a former UK prosecutor, investigated these schemes by setting up a trap using a fake social media profile. They found that scammers, predominantly young men from Nigeria and surrounding West African nations, use sophisticated tactics to coerce American teen boys into sending explicit photos. The scammers then demand payment, often via Cash App or gift cards, threatening to release the compromising material.
Rituals and Motivations
Sociology professor Oludayo Tade explained that some scammers seek "evil charms to cast a spell and to dispossess their victims," aiming to increase their scamming success rates. These rituals, performed by individuals known as Babalawo, are considered deviant within traditional Nigerian religious contexts.
Raffile observed firsthand a witch doctor performing a ritual involving the beheading of a live goose and the use of its blood over a victim's photograph to "fuse their souls together." He noted that such practices are intended to bring the scammers fortune at the expense of their victims.
While poverty is often cited as a motive, Raffile dismisses this, pointing to scammers displaying wealth through designer brands, expensive jewelry, and luxury vehicles. He asserts that many individuals in similar circumstances choose legitimate employment and reject criminal activities, indicating a choice rather than a necessity.
The Role of Social Media and Technology
A 2024 report by the Network Contagion Research Institute identified Instagram as the most common platform for sextortion schemes, followed by Snapchat. Scammers, who refer to themselves as "Yahoo Boys" or "BM Boys" (for blackmail), coordinate tactics, share information on creating fake profiles, discuss AI tools, and refine blackmail scripts on platforms like Scribd.
These scammers often use photos of real-life porn stars to create fake online personas, with bundles of OnlyFans models' photos reportedly sold for around $10 each. They also leverage social media clout, with some becoming micro-celebrities on platforms like TikTok by showcasing their scams and recruiting others.
Impact on Victims and Legal Actions
The psychological toll on victims is immense. In several documented cases, teenagers have died by suicide within hours or days of being contacted by scammers. The family of 15-year-old Bryce Tate, who died by suicide in November, has shared their tragic experience. Similarly, 17-year-old Jordan DeMay died by suicide after being extorted on Instagram, leading to a 17-year sentence for two Nigerian brothers involved in the scheme.
Families are pursuing legal action against social media companies, with lawsuits filed against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, alleging wrongful death, product defect, and negligence. Meta has stated that it is working with law enforcement, employs strict messaging settings for teen accounts, and has implemented safety features like image blurring and warnings for users chatting with individuals in other countries.
Arrests of West African sextortion scammers remain rare, though some notable cases have occurred. In 2023, Imoleayo Samuel Aina was extradited to the U.S. and sentenced to federal prison for extorting and contributing to the suicide of a university student. Joint U.S.-Nigerian law enforcement efforts have also led to other arrests.
Researchers like Raffile and West have confronted scammers directly, reporting them to law enforcement and demonstrating that their identities and actions are known, which has prompted some scammers to alter their online presence.