Would almost be tempted to write a post on my Facebook wall along the lines of "dear friends and family, been a bit of a silly boy online and its come back to bite me. Thought I was engaged in a lively video call only to discover it was a con and now I'm being blackmailed for the footage. Well, I plan on sleeping easy tonight so won't be paying the blackmailer so if you get sent a video of my meat and two veg in the coming days I can only apologise".
That way it really doesn't matter what the blackmailer does, hopefully your son can sleep easy and just get on with his life (although expect a lot of stick at the family dinner on Xmas day!!!)
On the plus side one of his female friends might see his junk and take a fancy to himEven if the video is published it could be removed immediately from Facebook for inappropriate content and even removed from YouTube for the same reasons. I think the pre-emotive Facebook message is a good way to go plus the deactivating of his account means they don't have access to his friends list anymore.
He's done what all young lads do online, it's just a shame that he has done it with the wrong person. He is safe and in a few years it will probably be a funny story he can tell his friends.Thanks everyone for the advice. Police have just left after taking a statement but don't think they can do anything more as it appears the blackmailer may be in Morocco. We won't be paying any money that's for sure but this hasn't helped an already stressed son who is up the walls between final year uni work/exams and having girlfriend problems too (they are on a break over christmas until they get back in Jan) He keeps saying his life is ruined!
I do appreciate how tough this was for him to tell me - he came straight down to tell me and I told his mum when i collected her from work at 6 who isnt mad at him - just with the lowlife scum who tries to ruin other people's lives.
We are all assuming that what he did in the video was quite 'vanilla' when it could be something pretty embarrassing. Hopefully it isn't and you are right but I would be creased if I had done something quite outrageous and it was caught on film.If you think it may comfort him I would get him to think about his reaction if it happened to one of his mates. Personally I would be in stitches and give him stick in the pub but never would I think any less of the person or have ill will towards them. Putting it into context the worst outcome is that his pride is dented and becomes the butt of jokes for a few weeks, nothing worse.
Option 3 made me laugh - may be a bit unfair on Morrocans though since it is highly unlikely the person is Morrocan or even located there.There's another option... But it would take balls (no pun intended, really )
Get your son to make his own video, a replica of the Skype video and, with a bit of blur added to protect his modesty a little, post in online himself with the reasons why and send the link to the blackmailer.
If he's really brave, he could just go straight in without the blur.
The blackmailer is Moroccan yes? If he's really really really brave, he could post without any blur and then, at the end, do 'the money shot' all over the Morrocan flag.
Ok, option 3 is a bit out there, but 1 or 2 would certainly give a big two fingers straight back at the blackmailer.
Good call Dony..... Most of us are older but to a youngster this could be a really drastic point in timeHope you don't mind me posting this link but this needs to be taken seriously. Keep a close eye on your son.
Teen Commits Suicide After Being Blackmailed Online By Ruthless Nigerian Gang
There was also a similar case in Scotland with the same outcome.
Is there any evidence out there of one of these vides actually ever being published? It's not the first time I've read about this happening but I don't recall the threat ever followed through.