Parents of Sextortion Victim Lead Campaign to Combat Online Blackmail

Following their son's tragic death, the Dowey family urges action against sextortion and calls for increased social media accountability.

Murray Dowey, a 16-year-old from Dunblane, took his own life after being targeted by sextortionists from West Africa.
His parents, Mark and Ros Dowey, are advocating for greater awareness and prevention of sextortion through a new campaign launched in Scotland.
The campaign, supported by Crimestoppers and Police Scotland, aims to educate young people on the dangers of sharing intimate images online.
The Dowey family criticizes social media companies for not doing enough to prevent sextortion, accusing them of prioritizing profits over safety.
Sextortion incidents have significantly increased, with organized gangs, particularly from Nigeria, exploiting social media to target young victims.