Introduction:
Modern dating has moved online — and so have new dangers. What starts as playful flirting can turn into blackmail, especially when scammers convince victims to send intimate content. This is Arto’s story, a 31-year-old man from Helsinki, who learned how quickly digital trust can be weaponized.
The Story:
Arto matched with a woman named “Lina” on a short video app. She was stunning — confident, flirty, and eager to chat. After a few light exchanges, she suggested they move to Signal, saying she preferred “more secure” platforms for private conversations.
On Signal, their messages escalated quickly. Lina sent a short video clip of herself in lingerie and asked Arto to send something back. She made it feel casual and mutual — “I only do this with guys I trust 
.”
Caught up in the moment, Arto sent a shirtless selfie. Then another. Then, a more revealing one.
That’s when everything changed.
Suddenly, Lina stopped flirting. Instead, she sent a screenshot of Arto’s Instagram profile and said:
“Send me €200 now or I’ll send these pictures to your family, your boss, and post them on social media.”
Arto was in shock. He begged her to delete the photos. She insisted she had already saved them in the cloud. He sent the money — afraid of what would happen if he didn’t.
But that wasn’t the end. A week later, she demanded more: €300 this time. “Or everyone sees everything.” Arto finally reached out to a friend and was advised to report the account and stop all contact.
Luckily, the scammer never followed through on the threats. But the emotional toll and shame stuck with him long after the incident.
Lesson Learned:
Never send explicit content to someone you haven’t met and trust fully — especially if you’ve only known them online. Scammers use sexual manipulation to create leverage and extort money. If this happens to you, don’t panic. Stop communication, save all evidence, report the scam to the platform and authorities, and talk to someone you trust. You’re not alone — and silence only helps the scammer.