A disturbing trend is sweeping Nigerian social media: young men known as “BM Boys” (Blackmail Boys) openly flaunt ill-gotten wealth on TikTok, boasting of extorting thousands from victims—mostly teenage boys in Western countries—through sextortion schemes.
How It Works
Posing as attractive women on Instagram, these scammers lure victims into sharing explicit photos, then demand payments under threats of exposure. One 24-year-old blackmailer, speaking anonymously, claims to have earned nearly $100,000 over eight years. “If you don’t work, you’re not going to eat,” he says.
Their success is broadcast on TikTok, where flashy videos of cash, gold chains, and luxury cars attract aspiring scammers. Comments like “Boss, teach me the work” flood their posts, with some accounts amassing hundreds of thousands of followers.
Deadly Consequences
The U.S. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported 26,718 cases of financial sextortion in 2023—a 150% spike from 2022. At least 46 teens worldwide have died by suicide after being targeted.
John DeMay, whose 17-year-old son Jordan took his life in 2022, recounts how Nigerian scammers continued their schemes even after learning of his death. “They fired back up… with the exact same script,” he says. Two perpetrators now face 17-year prison sentences.
Social Media’s Role
While Meta claims to have removed 63,000 Nigerian-linked sextortion accounts in 2024, experts say platforms must do more. “It shouldn’t be as easy as going into the Yellow Pages,” says online exploitation expert Paul Raffile.
Despite TikTok’s statement that it “does not tolerate sextortion,” the BM Boys thrive—posting “BM Updates” with scripts, hacking tips, and VPN advice to evade detection.
No Remorse
The anonymous blackmailer dismisses links to suicides: “I’m not sure it’s the BM that makes the kids kill themselves.” For him, it’s just survival.
As families grieve and platforms scramble, one truth emerges: this digital predation won’t stop until social media companies and law enforcement treat it as the life-or-death crisis it is.