OU/BBC documentary investigates the rise of sextortion scams

Posted on 2 October 2025 • Law, Psychology, Society and politics, TV and radio

A new OU/BBC documentary explores why sextortion scams on social media are becoming increasingly common.

Airing on Sunday 5^th October at 9pm on BBC Three and iPlayer, ‘Blackmailed: The Sextortion Killers’ follows reporter Tir Dhondy, as she takes a closer look at the darker side of social media.

With unprecedented access and interviews with industry insiders, Dhondy exposes a disturbing online underworld of sextortion scams targeting teenage boys and the devastating consequences for the victims.

Providing academic expertise to the production team was, Professor Lisa Lazard, Head of Discipline, Psychology and Counselling and Olga Jurasz, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Protecting Women Online.

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL).

With particular relevance to: Q07 Psychology, Q82 Forensic Psychology, Q83 Social Psychology, Q84 Psychology with Counselling, R21 BA (Hons) Criminology, Q98 BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology, Q92 BA (Hons) Criminology and Law, F73 MSc in Forensic Psychological Studies, Q05/Q79/Q80: Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Q92: BA (Hons) in Criminology & Law, F64: Master of Law.

Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships

• Academic Consultants: Professor Lisa Lazard (FASS) and Professor Olga Jurasz (FBL)

• Media Fellow: Prof. Zoe Walkington (FASS) and Dr Sophie Doherty (FBL)

• Broadcast Project Manager: Matthew Ray

• Supporting Online Content: Xinmiao Zhang

Supporting Online content

Visit our Broadcast & Partnerships site, OU Connect to explore the issue further with an interactive guide on how to stay safe from sextortion.

Main image: Reporter Tir Dhondy (copyright BBC)