Infopackets Reader Tyler M. writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I just came across your article on how can I stop sextortion - thanks for that. I have a somewhat different issue, though similar.

While on vacation in Thailand, I met a beautiful local woman at a bar in Bangkok. She offered to be my personal guide (plus benefits!) and promised to show me around for the duration of my visit. I was skeptical at first, but knew that this type of 'transactional relationship' was common in Thailand. After a few drinks I gave in - we exchanged numbers and added each other on Instagram. Everything seemed fine; she took me to the beach and local restaurants; she was sweet and even clung to my arm wherever we went.

A week after I got home, that's when things got strange. She messaged me on LINE asking for money, saying she needed help paying rent. When I said no, she sent me a secretly recorded video clip from one of the nights we spent together at a hotel. At this point, I researched as much as I could on the topic of what to do when someone is threatening you with pictures, but couldn't find any useful advice. She also sent a screenshot of my Instagram and said if I didn't send her $2,000 right away, she would forward the video to my work, my Instagram followers, and my girlfriend. She even followed people I know on Instagram as proof! I am extremely confused and am having panic attacks. What can I do if someone is blackmailing me? I don't know what to do and NEED HELP NOW! "

My response:

While Thailand sextortion setups can feel unique, they share critical warning signs with familiar patterns - such as being blackmailed for money on Facebook - where scammers prey on fear and social exposure to demand money. Overall, Thailand-based sextortion scams are on the rise, especially in tourist-heavy areas.

Unlike most online sextortion cases - which unfold entirely through virtual chats and fake profiles in a digital world - Thai scams often begin with an in-person encounter and then transition later to online blackmail. For this reason, the Thai sextortion scheme is considered hybrid sextortion.

These scams are common in tourist-heavy areas like Bangkok, Pattaya, or Phuket, where a victim may meet someone through a bar ("girlfriend-for-rent"), escort service, massage parlor, or nightlife venue. Everything seems consensual and relaxed at first - until weeks later when they resurface online and start making demands.

Are you being sextorted? Need help now? I've worked on over 1,000+ sextortion cases and know how to prevent your exposure and shut the blackmailers down. Contact me here for a free 15-minute phone call consultation - I'm happy to answer your questions. When you contact me, you will also receive two free reports that contain invaluable information: Five Strategies to Stall Blackmail Scammers and Not Pay Anything and Sextortion Survival Guide - Five Critical Mistakes to Avoid and What to Do Instead. These invaluable guides contain proven strategies to help you take control of the situation before it escalates.

In this article, I take a deep dive into the following:

• Hidden Camera Sextortion - After Meetup
• Sextortion Scams in Thailand
• Banking and Messaging Apps used in Sextortion
• Sextortion Often Tied to Adult Service Scams
• Online Sextortion vs Sextortion After Meeting Someone
  • Typical Online Sextortion Scams
  • Meetup Sextortion Scams
• Real Case Spotlight
  • High-level CEO Meets Up at Dodgy Hotel, Instantly Regrets It
• Being Sextorted? What To Do
• Final Thoughts

Related:

• Will a Blackmailer Expose Me if I Don't Pay?
• What to Do if Someone is Harassing You Online

Also see:

• INTERPOL's Global Warning on Human Trafficking-Fueled Fraud
• UNODC's Efforts Against Scams and Trafficking
• CSIS Analysis of Southeast Asia's High-Tech Fraud Factories

Hidden Camera Sextortion - After Meetup

In most sextortion cases, a hidden camera or covert recording is used to capture the victim in a compromising situation.

After what seems like a harmless encounter, the scammer convinces the victim to share personal contact details - usually a phone number or social media handle. Once communication moves to apps like LINE, which is widely used in Thailand, the blackmail begins.

What makes these scams especially dangerous is the use of hidden cameras - often placed in hotel rooms, private spaces, or even massage rooms - used to secretly record intimate moments. Later, the scammer threatens to send the footage to the victim's friends, workplace, or family unless a payment is made.

Demands are typically made via Thai bank transfers, PromptPay, or cryptocurrency, giving the scam an added layer of legitimacy that makes it harder for victims to recognize it as organized blackmail until it's too late.

Sextortion Scams in Thailand

Some scams in Thailand are hybrid scams that mix physical presence with online threats:

• A foreign tourist gets involved with a local "escort" or "girlfriend" in Thailand
   
• The victim is secretly recorded or duped into compromising behavior
   
• After leaving the country, the victim starts getting blackmail threats through apps like Line or WhatsApp (both very popular in Thailand)
   
• The scammers demand money via bank transfers or crypto
   
• It's worth noting that the woman involved in this scam is only part of the whole picture. She may have sold the victim's info to another cyber gang that specializes in online sextortion as a way to make money off of a 'lead'

This overlaps with similar online sextortion cases, except there is proof that you were physically there and engaged in an act.

Banking and Messaging Apps used in Sextortion

Unlike African or Philippine scammers who use Western Union, CashApp, and gift cards to transfer money, Thai scammers prefer:

• Local bank accounts (often money mule accounts) - scammers use real people's accounts to receive and forward money, making it harder to trace and adds a layer of legitimacy to the scam
   
• LINE app (used extensively in Thailand) - LINE is used for messaging, but it also includes a built-in digital wallet called LINE Pay, which allows users to: send and receive money between LINE friends, make mobile payments at participating merchants, and link to Thai bank accounts or credit cards for easy transfers
   
• PromptPay or GCash alternatives (Thai equivalent payment gateways) - PromptPay is Thailand's national real-time payment system that allows users to send and receive money instantly using just a phone number, national ID, or QR code - no need for bank account details. It's widely used for everything from personal transfers to paying at street vendors.

All these payment methods make the transaction seem "more legit" to some victims, especially tourists who think they're dealing with a personal matter gone wrong - not organized crime.

Sextortion Often Tied to Adult Service Scams

Many Thailand-based sextortion scams tie into illicit services or entrapment schemes.

Example:

• A tourist arranges a meet-up via a dating app or adult site
   
• After the interaction (even if nothing happened), the person is blackmailed using fabricated screenshots, hidden footage, or chat logs
   
• Some victims are threatened with fake police involvement - a unique tactic in Thailand where the scammers claim to be tied to law enforcement. This is somewhat similar to the "angry father" scam that claims a girl is underage and the father requires financial restitution. In the case of Thai scammers, they might threaten arrest or jail time due to "illegal" activity while in the country

Online Sextortion vs Sextortion After Meeting Someone

While both Thai and overseas scams aim to extort money through fear and exposure, there are some key differences in how they operate:

Typical Online Sextortion Scams

• Typical online sextortion scams (often operated by large criminal gangs in Africa / Philippines / India / Morocco) are fully digital from start to finish; no in-person contact. Typical online sextortion scams often involve fake profiles on social media, and many victims end up getting blackmailed on Instagram or dealing with Facebook blackmail after being tricked into sharing private photos or videos
   
• Victims are lured through dating apps or fake social media profiles; the chat typically moves to a third-party messaging app like Snapchat, WhatsApp and Google Chat - see my articles on getting blackmailed on Snapchat, facebook dating scam WhatsApp, and also how to handle blackmail on Google Chat for more info
   
• Scammers often use pre-recorded bait videos of a woman playing 'the solo banjo', or images of women that are in fact former female sextortion victims
   
• Pictures of the victim are often combined into a collage, or a full video of the victim is uploaded to YouTube / adult sites, and threats are made to share the link to the victim's contacts
   
• Do sextortionists follow through on their threats? Some do and some don't. If there is exposure, it's almost always done through Facebook or Instagram (targets are: family, friends, followers), or workplace via LinkedIn profiles
   
• Victim info is shared across various cyber criminal gangs, resulting in multiple scammers targeting the same person at the same time
   
• Payments are typically demanded through Western Union, MoneyGram, Orange, Remitly, RIA, World Remit, CashApp (crypto), PayPal, and gift cards
   
• Scammers often pretend to be law enforcement, accuse the victim of child exploitation as leverage, or claim that it's a crime to be recorded in an act of self gratification with the promise of being arrested
   
• Based on cases I've worked on, sextortion threats typically lasts anywhere from 2 weeks to 60 days and largely depends on the gang of criminals you are engaged with (there are differing styles of sextortion based on geo location). At this point, they will either expose the victim or move on, with some scammers resurfacing months later - depending on how much you've paid previously - in order to demand more. The more you pay, the greater the chance of recurring threats

Meetup Sextortion Scams

• Typically start with a real, in-person encounter (bars, massage parlors, "girlfriend-for-rent" services)
   
• Involve hidden cameras or secretly captured media during an encounter
   
• After the victim leaves, blackmail begins via messaging app
   
• Scammers may follow or message your real contacts on Instagram or Facebook to antagonize you
   
• Demands are made using local bank transfers, crypto, CashApp, and similar
   
• Operated by individuals or small local groups, not large international syndicates
   
• Scammers rarely share victim info across multiple gangs, but can reappear later
   
• Scammers may threaten to involve fake police, embassies, or immigration, claiming the victim broke local laws
   
• Victims are more likely to believe the threat is personal - not organized crime - which increases compliance

Real Case Spotlight

High-level CEO Meets Up at Dodgy Hotel, Instantly Regrets It

In one case I worked on, a high-level traveling CEO responded to a local online ad offering massage services. Wanting to unwind from his long trip, he scheduled a session at a nearby hotel in an area that was less than favorable. The massage itself was far from professional, but it wasn't until later that the real issue surfaced. Unbeknownst to him, the woman had secretly taken a photo of him while he was redressing without his consent.

A few hours later, he received a message from the 'therapist' with his photo, his wife's name and personal phone number - along with a demand for cash in return for silence. This was a textbook online blackmail setup - the only difference was that this one started in person.

Uncertain of how to proceed, the CEO reached out to me in a full-blown panic. After listening to the full details of his case, I quickly devised a strategy tailored to his situation:

• Review of Sextortion Scammer Tactics - First, I walked him through tactics scammers use in cases like this - including how they often escalate if ignored, bait victims with traps designed to force them to pay, or bluff with fake evidence. I showed him real examples from past cases I've worked on, so he could clearly see what was a threat, what was a bluff, and how to avoid walking into a trap.
   
• Assess Risk - Next, I helped him assess the level of exposure risk based on what the scammer actually had versus what they claimed. We reviewed the screenshot the blackmailer sent, discussed what they could and couldn't do with this information, and I helped him identify which social media connections were likely to be targeted first if the scammer chose to follow through.
   
• Damage Control - Next, we shifted into damage control and mitigation. I provided him with a list of high-risk targets in his contact network (family, professional contacts, PR-sensitive figures), and guided him through steps to mitigate these threats to reduce exposure.
   
• Safe Stories - Most importantly, I offered him multiple "safe story" scenarios he could use if disclosure to his wife became unavoidable. Together, we developed a clear, calm explanation that minimized blame, framed the situation realistically, and positioned him as someone who had been manipulated and was now working to fix it. I coached him on when to share it, how to say it, and what to avoid that could make things worse.

In the end, not only did we prevent the blackmailer from making contact with his wife or employer, but we also stopped further demands before they could escalate. The CEO later told me that after our final call, it was the first night in a week that he actually slept.

This case is similar to tourist-based sextortion scams because it begins with an in-person encounter, involves a secretly taken photo, and leads to being blackmailed online after the victim leaves - mirroring the same sextortion hybrid setup often used in scams involving 'girlfriend-for-rent' or massage services abroad.

Need help now? I've worked on over 1,000+ sextortion cases and know how to prevent your exposure and shut the blackmailers down. Contact me here for a free 15-minute phone call consultation - I'm happy to answer your questions. When you contact me, you will also receive two free reports that contain invaluable information: Five Strategies to Stall Blackmail Scammers and Not Pay Anything and Sextortion Survival Guide - Five Critical Mistakes to Avoid and What to Do Instead. These invaluable guides contain proven strategies to help you take control of the situation before it escalates.

Being Sextorted? What To Do

If you're reading this because something similar just happened to you - whether you met someone in Thailand, or online and are now being blackmailed - you are not alone.

I've helped thousands of clients in this exact situation. Whether it started with a random SMS text message, a happy-ending massage, a meetup scam, a 'girlfriend-for-rent' service in another country while on vacation, the moment the threats begin - and especially when photos or video are involved - things can spiral fast. But they don't have to.

The key to how to stop sextortion is knowing what scammers are likely to do before it happens, so you can intervene and prevent the worst-case scenario from unfolding. Their threats and their actions are often very different, and that gap is part of the illusion designed to keep you fearful while they stay in control. From experience, I can tell you scammers are extremely crafty - they will deliberately throw you off as punishment, often in ways you never expect - and by then, the damage can be irreversible. I've handled countless cases and can show you exactly what really happens, and how to respond.

Final Thoughts

Since 2019, I've personally handled over 1,000+ sextortion cases, and I can tell you this with absolute certainty: having a clear, structured plan for how to respond - and what not to do - can drastically reduce your risk and put you back in control. When you know what's coming, you won't get blindsided. And that alone can make all the difference.

Here is what I have to offer:

• Techniques to stall or confuse the scammer to buy yourself time without escalating the threat
   
• Multiple ways to stop scammers from contacting your friends, family, followers, or workplace - based on real cases with real pictures and videos to show you what happened to them, and how to stop it from happening to you
   
• Step-by-step help with what to say, what not to say, and how to make the scammer back off without paying anything
   
• Real examples of what scammers typically do next (and how to prepare for it)
   
• Worst-case planning, plus contingency plans based on what scammers actually do
   
• Safe story options if disclosure becomes necessary - in case you need to explain your way out
   
• Ways to minimize your online presence before scammers can exploit it
   
• Advice on when (and when not) to block the scammer - and why timing matters
   
• Clarity on whether your case is bluff-based, high-risk, or likely to escalate
   
• Emotional support and mindset tips to reduce anxiety while managing the situation
   
• Support with removing content if anything is ever uploaded online, and automated ways to track it
   
• Ongoing follow-up in case the scammer resurfaces later (which happens more often than you'd think)

If you're panicking, getting constant threats, or just don't know what to do next - I can help - you don't have to figure this out alone. Use the contact link to schedule a confidential call with me. The first 15 minutes are free - ask me anything.

Reminder: we are Better Business Bureau A+ Accredited with ZERO complaints. We have been online for over 24 years and have successfully helped over 1,000+ victims of sextortion and online blackmail. We have a proven proven track record of trust, reliability, and results - look at our BBB reviews here. Unlike other so-called "recovery" services that make false promises and exploit fear, we deliver real strategies that work. Contact me now and get expert guidance that matters most!

About the author: Dennis Faas is the CEO and owner of Infopackets.com. Since 2001, Dennis has dedicated his entire professional career helping others with technology-related issues with his unique style of writing in the form of questions-and-answers; click here to read all 2,000+ of Dennis' articles online this site. In 2014, Dennis shifted his focus to cyber crime mitigation, including technical support fraud and in 2019, online blackmail. Dennis has received many accolades during his tenure: click here to view Dennis' credentials online DennisFaas.com; click here to see Dennis' Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science (1999); click here to read an article written about Dennis by Alan Gardyne of Associate Programs (2003). And finally, click here to view a recommendation for Dennis' services from the University of Florida (dated 2006).