Instagram Sextortion Trap Targeted Teen

A group of men in Lagos, Nigeria used a fake Instagram profile posing as an attractive young woman to build trust with 17-year-old Jordan DeMay. After exchanging messages and a purported nude image, Jordan sent an explicit photograph, exposing him to a sextortion scheme designed to pressure victims for money.

Key findings

• Attackers used a fake Instagram account, "dani.robertts," with the profile of an attractive young woman.
• The account first held ordinary conversation to build rapport before becoming flirtatious.
• The attackers sent what was claimed to be a nude photograph, prompting Jordan to send an explicit image in return.
• The supposed woman was actually several men operating from Lagos, Nigeria, following a script intended to pressure young men for money.

Who’s being targeted

• Commonly targeted roles: Students, Teenagers, Young adults, Parents and guardians, School counselors, Educators.
• Affected industries: Education, Families and households.
• Attack channels: instagram.
• Impersonated: An attractive young woman using the name "dani.robertts".

Awareness takeaways

• Treat unsolicited social-media friend requests cautiously, especially when the sender is unknown and their profile is designed to quickly gain trust.
• Teach young people that online identities and images can be fabricated; do not assume a flirtatious contact is who they claim to be.
• Do not send intimate images to online contacts, even if they send an image first; this can be used to coerce or extort the recipient.
• Encourage victims of sextortion to seek immediate support from a trusted adult, platform safety team, or law enforcement rather than handling threats alone.

Red flags to watch for

• An unknown account initiates contact with a profile designed to appear attractive.
• Casual conversation quickly becomes flirtatious.
• The new contact sends a purported nude image and encourages a reciprocal image.