Sparrow Trust

ECPAT International

⚠️IN THE KNOW

⚠️ Content warning: this post includes real examples of blackmail and sextortion. Some viewers may find this distressing.

I’m Daniel, I’m 20 years old. I was bored one night scrolling through Tinder when I matched with someone called Nicole.

After a short conversation, she asked for my Instagram handle. Then we moved to chatting on Telegram. The chat quickly became flirtatious and sexual. I felt a rush of adrenaline, things were moving fast. Nicole sent me explicit images and videos, building trust and encouraging me to do the same.

I eventually shared a n**e video of myself. Seconds later, everything changed.

Threatening messages started to flood in. My phone rang, but the person on the other end was not who I expected. My stomach dropped. It was a man. He was demanding money and threatening to send my intimate videos to my Instagram followers, friends and family if I didn’t pay immediately.

Soon after, screenshots of my follower list appeared in the chat. I was shocked, spooked and afraid. I felt trapped. In a panic, I agreed to pay $1000 after telling him I didn't have the $5000 he wanted. But then as soon as I’d paid, I was pressed to send more. The threats continued.

What happened to me is called sextortion. I am a victim of a crime carried out for financial gain and many of the tactics used against me followed a common pattern.

Looking back, I realised how quickly the situation escalated. What had felt exciting and harmless at first turned frightening in a matter of moments. The fast emotional connection, the pressure to move platforms and the urgency to share intimate content were all part of their tactics. None of this was my fault, but I wish I'd known what to look out for.

➡️ By sharing stories like Daniel’s, we want more people to recognise how these scams operate and know what to do if something similar happens to them or someone they know.

The safest response is to stop contact, report the account, block the person and seek support 📵⚠️🤝

Visit the sextortion hub to learn more about managing the impacts of sextortion and other forms of image-based abuse: https://news.esafety.gov.au/sextortion/

*Daniel’s story combines the experiences and emotions of a number of individuals in this situation

At its core, human trafficking is a crime of exploitation.

Traffickers use tactics like manipulation, fraud, or violence to force people to work against their will, exploiting them and their labor.

Learn more about human trafficking and what you can do to address this crime by tapping the link in our comments.

Cyberbullying is one of the most complex challenges educators face today, evolving fast.

🎓 "Cyberbullying in a rapidly changing digital world" is a free MOOC designed to help you prevent it, recognise it and respond with confidence.

Aligned with the EU Action plan against cyberbullying, it covers the technological, psychological and educational dimensions you need to navigate this space.

Whether you work in formal or informal education, this course is for you. Register now. ⬇️

https://www.europeanschoolnetacademy.eu/courses/course-v1:BIK+Cyberbullying+2026/about

Whether it’s in group chats, comments, DMs or social media posts - online abuse, harassment or cyberbullying can seriously impact young people in sport 🏉🏊🏏🥅

In fact, nearly 1 in 5 children who participate in organised sport have experience cyberbullying from someone connected to their sport.

That’s why we’ve launched a new young people resource available through the eSafety sports Hub, designed specifically to support athletes, coaches, managers and sporting organisations.

This practical tool covers:
😊 expectations for positive online behaviour in sport
💻 different types of online harms and abuse
🤝 accountability and respect in digital spaces
✋ clear steps for getting help and reporting issues.

Whether you’re on the field or managing a team, this resource makes it easier to start important conversations with young people about online safety and wellbeing offline.

Child Protection week may be over, but our Sparrow Trust team is passionate about child safety 365 days a year!

So, as we maintain focus, know that we strive to:

Protect.
DEFEND.
Safeguard, all of our children.

All by the grace of God, to the best of our abilities, inspite of so many limitations and despite the obstacles, one day at a time.

We are the change-makers defending freedom on the home-front.

For more information on how you can impact a life, send us an email to [email protected]

FYI: Incidents such as this one are preventable. Unfortunately, more people than we think, fall prey to criminals exploiting the needs, wants, hopes and desires of ordinary people.
This is why we at Sparrow Trust are committed to educating children and adults alike on digital hygiene and safety strategies.

For more information on how to book a safety session:
[email protected]
082 263 9710

Woman rescued from kidnappers after being lured online to meet in Isipingo Police are investigating a kidnapping case after a woman was lured through an online platform and held for ransom.

Eighty-two suspects were arrested for various cases during prevention operations and routine policing conducted in Brighton Beach.
More here: https://www.citizen.co.za/southlands-sun/news-headlines/2026/06/06/multi-agency-operation-yields-82-arrests/

📲Join the SUN Newspapers WhatsApp channel for daily news updates
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VanIQjS9Bb656Pe4Mh2m
Contact us on
082 587 0866

𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞
Kids Academy Africa

These learners were certainly serious about being too cool 😎 to be cruel ⛔️.

Thank you to the Principal, teachers and learners for this opportunity to invest in building positive personal and group habits and behaviors.

Together we create a culture of care 💙

To enquire about booking a safety session for your school, email [email protected]

𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞
Thank you to Isipingo Beach Intermediate School for welcoming us and creating the time to invest in learner's safety.

✅️Our safety session focused on building cohesion and a sense of pride in cultivating positive characteristics.
✅️Anti-bullying conversations are not just about what not to do, but rather what we CAN do for the safety of everyone.
✅️We also built skills to deal with conflict and disagreements in healthy ways.

In a society where our kids are exposed to high levels of violence and criminality we take every opportunity to speak about personal, group safety, and ways to reduce their risk of becoming victims.

To book a safety session, email [email protected]