Rugby player blackmailed over explicit content and told his career would be ruined

Online scammers are targeting players and threatening to leak photos of them unless they hand over large sums of money

Scammers are threatening to release obscene images and videos of rugby players unless they receive big sums of money, and this type of blackmail is becoming more common.

Known as “sextortion,” the elaborate plan involves victims sending sexual material to con artists, who frequently take the form of female models asking to trade pictures.

When they have the photos, they demand hundreds of pounds or they would leak them to the public or even family members.

There have been a number of high-profile victims in recent years and athletes are becoming increasingly targeted, with “more and more” rugby players, along with professional footballers and cricketers falling prey to the scammers.

Matt Himsworth, a lawyer employed by the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA)

Matt Himsworth, a lawyer employed by the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) to combat social media abuse, told the publication that there had been a “big rise” in cases, adding: “That’s something I have had to help RPA members out more and more with.

“This is not just targeted at sports people but they are targeted at young men and dealing with classic internet crime of shame. It is interesting that women get shamed when sex tapes get leaked; men get shamed when pictures appear of them masturbating.

They will look at an individual’s vulnerabilities

“They will look at an individual’s vulnerabilities,” he stated. It’s possible that you come from a traditional, devout household. or in case you have an open profile.

They are depending on their embarrassment if you are a rugby player, and I have experienced this with one guy. They say things like, “We are going to ruin your career.” Their unique weakness is that they have thousands of followers on Instagram and a public profile with a blue tick.

Mr Himsworth, who works for B5 Consultancy firm, also explained how victims should not give into the scammer’s demands, as paying the large sums of money does not bring the issue to a close, and is actually the worst thing one can do in that situation. “If you give them £300 then they will be back for £500 next week,” he added. “They move on to the next victim quite quickly if they realize they are not going to be paid.

“I once had a rugby player who was a bit of a lad-in-the-bar type cliche who was being blackmailed and he said to them ‘do what you like’. Of course, that was the best thing he could have done because without that level of shame, the blackmailer moved on to the next victim.”

The RPA also employs the lawyer’s firm to help fight abuse on social media

The RPA also employs the lawyer’s firm to help fight abuse on social media, a topic that has gained significant attention following threats of death sent to World Cup referees Wayne Barnes and Tom Foley and the announcement by England captain Owen Farrell that he would be quitting the sport to concentrate on his mental health.

And Mr Himsworth admitted rugby has a “big problem

And Mr Himsworth admitted rugby has a “big problem,” explaining: “I don’t think people truly understand what it is like to be a player in the public eye these days and be subject to the level of invasive abuse that they suffer.

“The helplessness you feel when you don’t know when it is going to happen next and you can’t control it. You have lads who are 6ft 5in and 20 stone. No one is going to go up to them in the pub and have a pop at them.

“When it is on the internet, the real injustice that you feel when they abuse you or your family is really hard to deal with,” he added. “What the RPA want their members to know is that, yes we cannot guarantee justice, but by Christ we will work hard to get it for you.”

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