Keeping Yourself Safe Online

We work as hard as we can to ensure that any personal information (other than what is shown publicly on a user's profile) is always protected. What we can't protect against is common scams and attempts at extortion that may make it seem like a hacker gained information from our site. 

So called "sextortion" scams usually arrive via email and explain (usually in broken English) how someone has allegedly gained control of a webcam and recorded a user in compromising situations while visiting adult websites. If the hacker isn't paid (often a strange and uneven dollar amount, often in bitcoin), they will supposedly release the video to everyone on the user's contact list. 

That sounds quite scary, until you realize how truly commonplace these scams are. And once you've ignored your first one, it gets easier and easier to mark them all as spam and move on. These emails aren't connected to adult websites or a user's browsing history and are sent to anyone who has an email address, with the hope someone will feel they've been "caught," and pay up.

Three quick tips for sextortion emails:

• NEVER click any links in the body of the email, visit any sites listed, or reply to the sender, under any circumstances. 

• NEVER send money or attempt to share any kind of payment information with a bitcoin wallet or PayPal address displayed in the email.

• Immediately change any passwords that might be listed as "proof" that the hacker has access to your account. Here's how to change your BateWorld password right now: How Do I Change My Password?
  
  

Safer Media Sharing

When it comes to sharing erotic media online, there always remains some degree of risk. However, there are some tips to enhance your safety when choosing to share. 

• If someone contacts you who you don't know and wants to move communication off-site straight away, that could be a red flag and a sign to be extra vigilant.
  
  
• When creating erotic selfies, try to leave out any details that could be used to identify you.
  
  
• Look for verified profiles to ensure the person behind the profile is who they say they are.
  
  

What to do if someone tries sexual extortion

• Save or screenshot all messages related to the incident as this will be crucial for producing evidence. 
  
  
• Report the incident to the tech platform where the incident took place. 
  
  
• After reporting the offending account, cease all communication and block them on the platform to prevent further harassment.
   
• It is not recommended to send the perpetrator money. Doing so may leave you open you to further demands. 
  
  
• Contact your local law enforcement and provide them with the saved evidence. 

For further help and advice on sextortion, visit the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI)