When 31-year-old Waleed Saeed from Ilford, east London, was jailed for 16 years in June 2026, it exposed a disturbing pattern of crime that has become increasingly common in the digital age. Saeed posed as a young woman or transgender woman on Snapchat, tricked men into sending intimate images, then revealed his true identity and blackmailed them for money – sometimes demanding in-person meetings where he sexually assaulted and raped them. This is sextortion: a form of blackmail where perpetrators use intimate images or videos to coerce victims into giving money, sexual favours, or other demands.
Sextortion typically begins with a perpetrator creating a fake online persona – often a woman – and building trust with a victim on social media or dating apps. Once they obtain a compromising image, they threaten to share it with the victim's family, friends, employer, or community unless demands are met. In Saeed's case, he deliberately targeted young men from south Asian and Muslim backgrounds, believing they would be less likely to report the abuse due to shame or cultural pressures, according to Detective Constable Peter Collington of the Metropolitan Police. His victims included two teenagers aged 15 and 17, and he was convicted of 17 offences including rape, blackmail, and making indecent images of children. His offending spanned from 2018 until his arrest in November 2024.
“Explain what sextortion is, how it works, and its impact, using the case of Waleed Saeed.”
The rise of sextortion is linked to the ease of anonymous communication online. Platforms like Snapchat, which offers disappearing messages, can make victims feel safe sharing intimate content – but also give perpetrators a sense of impunity. The National Crime Agency has warned that sextortion is a growing threat, particularly targeting teenage boys and young men. In 2024, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service issued guidance on how to handle such cases, recognising that victims often suffer severe psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
For UK readers, this case is a stark reminder that sextortion can happen to anyone, but certain groups are more vulnerable. The Metropolitan Police have appealed for any further victims of Saeed to come forward, stressing that support is available and that offenders can be brought to justice even years later. It also highlights the importance of online safety: never share intimate images with strangers, be wary of requests to move conversations to private platforms, and remember that if you are being blackmailed, you are not at fault – report it to the police or through organizations like the National Cyber Security Centre's 'Cyber Aware' campaign.
Q: What is sextortion? Sextortion is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share intimate images or videos of you unless you pay money, provide more images, or agree to sexual acts. Perpetrators often gain the images by posing as someone else online, building trust, and then revealing their true identity to make demands.
Q: What should I do if I'm a victim of sextortion? Stop communicating with the perpetrator immediately. Do not pay or send more images. Report the crime to the police by calling 101 or online. You can also contact the National Cyber Security Centre or charities like the Revenge Porn Helpline for support. Preserve all evidence, such as screenshots and messages.
Q: Why do perpetrators target specific communities? Offenders like Saeed deliberately target victims they believe are less likely to report due to stigma, shame, or cultural norms – for example, religious or ethnic minorities. This makes the threat of exposure more powerful and reduces the chance of police involvement, allowing the abuse to continue.
What happens next? The Met Police's cold case team is still examining Saeed's seized phones, which contain intimate images linked to further unidentified victims, some believed to be children. They are appealing for anyone who may have been targeted by Saeed since 2018 to come forward. His 16-year sentence means he will serve at least two-thirds in custody before being considered for parole. Meanwhile, the case serves as a warning: sextortion is a serious crime with devastating consequences, but disclosure can lead to justice.