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This frightening note was obtained on social media by US teenager Evan Boettler, from a person he formerly assumed to be a young girl - reality, it was a cyber-scammer.

Only ninety minutes subsequent to obtaining the first note, the 16-year-old ended his life.

Digital blackmail involving intimate content is one of the fastest-growing online crimes. Targets - frequently adolescents in America and Europe are deceived into providing intimate photos or videos, which the fraudsters menace to distribute unless they are paid.

Upon learning that evening about his passing, nothing seemed logical

At the Missouri dwelling she cohabits with Evan's paternal parent Brad, she portrays their offspring as a bright, funny teenager who was passionate about angling, athletic activities and game pursuit.

The Cyber Footprint

Approximately twenty-four months subsequently, the Boettlers' grief has been raw, and their pursuit of clarity faced difficulties. Digital services like Meta reject disclosing details without a court order.

There was, however, one crucial trace - at a certain moment the fraudster commanded Evan's Facebook login, and upon utilizing these details, they departed with a digital signature.

This online trail directed me to various sites within Nigeria, primarily its largest metropolitan area, Lagos, where I hoped to discover who was responsible.

The "Yahoo Boys" Operation

Initial encounters directed me to the alleyways which are residence for numerous urban criminals, identified as "Yahoo Boys" - named after the email they used to run online scams during the initial 2000s.

These youthful males, typically in their twenties, live in impoverished areas but aspire to luxury vehicles and rapid wealth.

I don't feel bad because I need the money

That's where I met Ola. He laid out the mechanics of sextortion with a straightforward simplicity.

One creates a feminine profile employing fabricated identities from name generators, he said. It's a website offering identities of persons from targeted countries.

Structured Digital Criminal Operations

Ola worked alone, but further examples reveal how online exploitation in Lagos has progressed into progressively systematic coordinated endeavors - syndicates operated with commanders, organizational structures and collective resources, created to optimize earnings.

The route finally directed me along the water channels of Makoko, within the metropolis's most disadvantaged zones, where wooden residences supported by poles emerge along the periphery of Lagos Lagoon.

I had learned about activities called "Hustle Kingdoms" – spaces containing groups of youthful males utilizing mobile devices for fraud.

Mystical Aspects of Digital Fraud

These scammers told me that a lot of Yahoo boys were transitioning into what they called Advanced Yahoo. This entailed them approaching neighborhood clerics to consecrate schemes.

Spiritual practitioners have historically been integrated within Nigerian society, and for certain individuals, consulting them seemed as routine as purchasing a new mobile card.

Growing Global Problem

In the US, reports of sextortion to the FBI have more than doubled over the last three-year period, reaching a high of 55,000 in 2024.

Digital network businesses state they are addressing but their detractors contend they might interfere more forcefully.

Corporate Responses and Criticisms

A spokesperson for Meta said the suggestion that it might eliminate digital blackmail if it simply decided to was basically inaccurate.

They keep demonstrating that they don't want to know when kids are in harm

The grieving parents' scepticism is echoed inside Meta itself.

Aid and Support Possibilities

• Multiple institutions offer private notification systems for individuals impacted by digital victimization
• Expert assistance can generate online identifiers to halt picture dissemination
• Counseling options remain available for persons encountering cyber threats

Meanwhile, for Evan's parents, the barriers to justice remain insurmountable. With social media platforms unable to release the data, any possibility of identifying Evan's fraudster counted on a Nigerian network operator.

It wasn't hard to parent him because he was such a good human

During my communication with the Boettlers, they demonstrated kindness and appreciated my attempts. Brad had earlier characterized their child as "an extraordinary youth".