Parents of Sextortion Victim Appeal to Criminals to Halt “Terrorising” of Vulnerable Individuals

The parents of a British teenager who died by suicide after becoming a victim of sextortion have issued a direct plea to criminals in Nigeria, urging them to cease “terrorising” vulnerable individuals. Murray Dowey, a 16-year-old from Dunblane, ended his life last year. It is suspected he was deceived by criminals in West Africa into sending intimate pictures of himself and subsequently blackmailed. Murray’s mother and father also criticized social media companies for their perceived inaction in protecting young people, stating that these companies have “blood on their hands.” Sextortion typically involves victims receiving an explicit picture or video, followed by a request for them to send their own in return. They then face threats that the material will be shared with family and friends unless the blackmailer’s demands are met – a coercive tactic believed to have led Murray to take his own life. Mark and Ros Dowey have since recorded a video message addressing the “cruel” crime. They said: “You’re abusing children. You’ve ended Murray’s life.“How would they feel if it was their child or their little brother or their friend? I mean, it’s so cruel, and this is children, and it’s abuse”. They added: “You’re terrorising people, children, for some money, and I don’t think in any society that is in any way acceptable”. In Nigeria, sextortion has evolved into a significant criminal enterprise, engaging thousands of young men often referred to as “yahoo boys”. Instructional materials detailing participation in this crime are readily available for purchase online, a fact uncovered by a BBC News investigation conducted earlier this year. For several months, BBC News Investigations engaged in communication with a Nigerian man deeply involved in sextortion, ultimately convincing him to offer insights into this illicit activity. He provided an interview to BBC colleagues in Lagos, under the condition of anonymity. He informed them: “I know that it’s bad, but I just call it survival of the fittest.” He characterized sextortion as akin to an “industry” and confessed to approaching it as a game. He further stated: “It depends on the fish you catch. You might throw the hook in the sea. You might catch small fish or big fish.” Nevertheless, after being shown Ros and Mark’s recorded message, he seemed visibly shocked. He reported being “almost crying” and experiencing feelings of being “very bad”. Yet, Murray’s parents attribute blame for their son’s demise not solely to the criminals. They also hold technology companies accountable. Perpetrators of sextortion identify victims by targeting individuals on social media platforms, subsequently leveraging their friends and followers lists in their blackmail efforts. Ros informed BBC News: “I think they’ve got blood on their hands. The technologies are there for them to stop so many of these crimes.” Mark is of the opinion that Silicon Valley firms possess the capability to do more, but will refrain due to potential financial implications. He further commented: “It will stop them making more billions than they’re making”. An analysis conducted by the UK’s National Crime Agency indicated that while all age groups and genders are targets, a significant number of victims are boys between the ages of 14 and 18. Law enforcement officials suspect that the crime is underreported, as victims often hesitate to come forward due to fear or embarrassment. Mark informed the BBC that his son was “a really lovely kid” and that his parents had been unaware of any issues. He recounted: “He went up to his room, and he was absolutely fine. And you know, we found him dead the next morning”. His mother, Ros, further stated: “We had no chance to intervene, to notice there was something wrong and try and help and fix it”. The Dowey family participated in a campaign launch in Edinburgh, designed to alert young individuals to the perils of sextortion. The Fearless campaign, a collaborative effort involving Police Scotland, Crimestoppers, and the Scottish government, emphasizes the hazards associated with sharing intimate images online and provides guidance on actions to take and resources for assistance if targeted by criminals. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson remarked that tracking offenders is “difficult but not impossible,” and stressed the importance of individuals reporting crimes to the police to aid in evidence collection. He also affirmed that the police force would pursue criminals irrespective of their global location. Mark and Ros conveyed to BBC News that they had a message for any young person who becomes a victim of sextortion. The couple declared: “There’s nothing that is worth taking your own life for so if something happens to you, put that phone down and go and get somebody you trust and tell them it’s happened.” They further urged: “We can’t have this happening to more children, what happened to Murray.” For assistance: Individuals impacted by this narrative can find a compilation of organizations prepared to offer support and guidance on the BBC Action Line web page. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.