In several reported incidents, young people faced coercion from individuals who threatened to share private photographs unless a ransom was paid. Law enforcement in Chelyabinsk reported that these cases often begin with private images being discovered or accessed through social media or messaging apps, followed by demands for money with threats to publish the pictures online.
In one case, the parents of a 17-year-old contacted a guard unit after receiving a report about extortion. The perpetrators used social networks to pressure the victim and demanded payment. The private images concerned were initially obtained when the girl was texting with her boyfriend, and the blackmailers threatened to make the photos public. A partial payment of 500 rubles was sent by the victim before authorities were notified. A criminal case on extortion was subsequently opened as part of the investigation. The exchange underscores how quickly personal content can become leverage in online coercion and the role of timely reporting in stopping further harm.
Another incident occurred in the Krasnoarmeisky district involving a 16-year-old boy. He and his father visited the police to recount how a girl he had been communicating with on social networks began demanding 2,000 rubles under the threat of revealing private messages and photos from their chats.
Officials from the regional agency noted that online extortion is not limited to a single age group. They stated that most ransomware victims are adults aged 18 to 35, though some minors fall into the crosshairs as well. The pattern involves social media usage, the private nature of the exchanged material, and the fear of public humiliation driving victims to pay or comply before authorities can intervene.
Earlier, a psychologist described the situation to media outlets, suggesting that a wish to post intimate material might be tied to an underlying sense of insecurity. The psychologist noted that such impulses can reveal deeper self-esteem issues rather than a straightforward desire for notoriety, and she emphasized the harm caused by coercive tactics in online exchanges.