Sextortion scams are becoming more threatening as cybercriminals exploit artificial intelligence (AI) and large-scale data breaches to develop them in highly convincing ways. A recent analysis of the Avast, leader in digital security and privacy and part of GenTM(NASDAQ: GEN), revealed that in 2025, so far, although increasingly sophisticated, there has been a 26% reduction in the risk of being targeted by sextortion scams in Brazil.
Avast researchers are observing how countries around the world are impacted by these highly manipulative scams. In the US, the likelihood of being targeted by sextortion scammers increased by 137% in the first months of 2025, while the risk in Australia rose by 34%. Avast also revealed the top 10 most vulnerable countries to these scams, with Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Italy, Australia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Czech Republic facing the highest sextortion risk rates in the past calendar year.
New threatening and intrusive tactics
The criminals are refining their tactics, thanks to AI assistance and a wealth of personal data from victims available from recent large-scale breaches. As AI sophistication increases, so do the threatening explicit extortion emails sent by scammers. AI is being used by scammers to create imagesdeepfake, fake explicit photos created by overlaying a victim's face onto another body, along with threatening messages to distribute them.
Michal Salat, Threat Intelligence Director at Avast, highlights: "Our analysis reveals that victims of sextortion often receive threatening messages claiming access to their private videos and images. These scams become even more convincing with the use of passwords stolen from previous data breaches, creating an alarming sense of credibility."
"The fear of exposure, especially when personal details seem accurate, often pressures victims to comply with ransom demands. However, we strongly advise against engaging with these scammers, no matter how real the threats may seem," he concludes.
The use of Google Maps makes the approach more invasive and personalized
One of the most recent techniques used by cybercriminals involves Google Maps and is designed to employ a more invasive and personalized approach, which can truly shock and intimidate victims into complying with demands.
The criminals – using names, addresses, and emails readily available on the Dark Web due to data breaches – can create highly targeted emails for victims containing produced footage, disturbing information, and images of their actual homes. The scammers also claim to have gained access to the victims' devices to extort them, threatening to share sexual content or information about them. Cybersecurity specialists at Avast identified over 15,000 unique Bitcoin wallets associated with the Google Maps scam, although the scope of the operation is likely much larger.
Avast experts emphasize the importance of proactive protection against sextortion scams and urge people never to engage with messages that may be from scammers. The following actions help combat sextortion efforts
- Do not pay ransom demands, nor respond to threats.
- Do not engage with these emails, texts, or calls, nor open any associated PDF attachments.
- Always report the incident to the main cybercrime units. In Brazil, victims can contact local authorities and the National Reporting Center of Safernet Brazil.
- Use a trusted password manager to ensure unique passwords for all accounts and prevent reuse.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible to enhance account security.
- Monitor your data for violations using dark web monitoring services through products such as theAvast Secure Identity, to be alerted when confidential information is exposed and to act quickly, helping to protect your accounts.
- Don't panic – stay informed and take steps to protect your accounts.
As sextortion scams become more sophisticated, it is crucial for people to stay cautious and take steps to protect their digital privacy. Awareness and public vigilance remain critical in the fight against these threats.
