South Australia Police (SAPOL) is warning young people and their families about a renewed rise in online image abuse, including sextortion-type offending, after 297 matters involving South Australian victims were reported in 2025-26.
The number of reported matters increased from 268 in 2024-25, with the rise driven predominantly by male victims.
In 2025-26, 220 male victims were recorded, compared with 170 the previous financial year.
Cybercrime Investigation Section Sergeant David Mitchell said the figures highlighted the need for young people to recognise how quickly online interactions could escalate into threats and demands.
"Offenders can build trust very quickly online before asking a victim to share an intimate image," Sergeant Mitchell said.
"They can then use that image to threaten, blackmail or pressure the victim into sending money, more images or continuing contact.
"These offenders deliberately exploit fear, embarrassment and urgency, and we want victims to know they should not give in to those demands."
People aged 18 to 25 continue to be the most commonly reported victims of online image abuse, with 78 male victims and 11 female victims recorded in this age group during 2025-26.
There were 54 male victims aged under 18 in 2025-26, up from 33 the previous financial year. Males aged under 18 accounted for 42 per cent of the increase in male victims during the year.
Sergeant Mitchell said parents and carers should have open conversations with young people about online relationships, image sharing and what to do if they are threatened.
"Victims can feel embarrassed or frightened about telling someone what has happened, particularly if they have shared an intimate image," he said.
"The most important thing is to stop communicating with the offender, do not pay them and do not send any further images.
"Keep evidence of the contact and seek help as soon as possible.
"There is no shame in being targeted by this type of offending. The responsibility sits with the offender who is deliberately manipulating and exploiting the victim."
Reported financial losses associated with online image abuse also increased in 2025-26 to approximately $217,000, compared with about $107,000 the previous financial year.
SAPOL Intelligence analysis found the increase in losses was significantly influenced by a small number of high-value matters, including reported losses of $53,000, $40,000 and $10,000.
Even when higher-value outliers were excluded, the average loss where money was reported lost increased from about $1,000 in 2024-25 to just over $1,200 in 2025-26.
SAPOL encourages anyone experiencing online image abuse or sextortion-type offending to:
- stop communicating with the offender;
- do not send money or further intimate images;
- preserve screenshots, messages and account details as evidence;
- block the offender after evidence has been retained;
- tell a trusted person as soon as possible; and
- report the matter through ReportCyber and seek assistance from the eSafety Commissioner.
Cybercrime can be reported through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover/report.
Support:
- eSafety Commissioner – www.esafety.gov.au
- Victims of Crime SA – www.voc.sa.gov.au
- Lifeline – 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
- Rebuild Victim Counselling – www.rasa.org.au
Cybercrime Investigation Section Senior Constable Max Allison & Sergeant David Mitchell
