The internet is a great place to talk with friends, watch videos, and have fun. But sometimes, bad things happen online. One of these bad things is called sextortion, and a group of young people in Nigeria called the BM Boys are doing it to teenagers in other countries.
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BM Boys stands for Blackmail Boys. These are people who go online and pretend to be someone else. They act like they are friendly girls. They use fake pictures and fake names to make teenagers trust them.
They talk to boys on apps like Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat. After some time, they ask the boys to send private photos or do something personal on video. When the boy does this, the BM Boys stop pretending. They then say, "Send us money or we will show your photos to your family or friends."
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This is called blackmail, and it is very scary. Many teenagers feel afraid, sad, and don’t know what to do. Some send money because they want to stop the blackmail. But even if they pay, the BM Boys often ask for more.
This is not just a small problem. Some teenagers feel so bad that they stop going to school or talking to anyone. In very sad cases, some young people have even hurt themselves because of the fear and shame.
The police in the U.S., Europe, and Nigeria are working to stop these scams. Some people have been caught, but others are still doing it. These scams are growing fast, and we need to stop them.
What Can We Do?
Never send private photos or videos to anyone online, even if they seem nice.
If someone tries to scare you online, don’t pay them. Tell a parent, teacher, or trusted adult right away.
Parents and teachers should talk to children about online safety, and listen without getting angry.
This is not just a problem in Nigeria. It is a global problem. We all need to help keep young people safe.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s protect each other. The internet should be a safe place for everyone.
News Sources on BM Boys and Sextortion
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BBC News Africa
Article: "Nigeria’s BM Boys and the rise of sextortion gangs"
Covers the rise of sextortion gangs operating from Nigeria and their impact globally.
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The Guardian Nigeria
Article: "Sextortion: The new wave of online blackmail targeting Nigerian youths"
Focuses on local Nigerian perspectives and police efforts to combat sextortion.
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Al Jazeera English
Article: "Inside Nigeria’s growing sextortion epidemic"
Investigative report on the scale of sextortion in Nigeria and its socio-economic causes.
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CNN International
Report: "How Nigerian scammers use sextortion to target teens worldwide"
Details the tactics used by sextortion rings and international law enforcement responses.
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Interpol
Statement & reports on cybercrime and sextortion linked to Nigerian networks.
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