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Deception (social engineering): Private individual, Germany 2023

A 35-year-old man was contacted via social networks and talked into a video chat in which he undressed; the perpetrators secretly recorded it.

  • Incident · 2023 · Brandenburg (Karstädt-Garlin, district of Prignitz), Germany
  • Evidence: confirmed by an authority
  • Deception (social engineering)
  • Fraud

As of

On this page
  1. What happened
  2. Who would have paid?
  3. Lessons
  4. Sources
  5. Similar cases

What happened

Shortly afterwards, they sent him the video and immediately demanded money, otherwise they would publish it and send it to his acquaintances. He blocked the contacts, paid nothing and filed a criminal complaint.

Affected
Private individual (anonymous)
Industry
Private individual
Loss
no reliable figure
Business interruption
unknown
Ransom demanded / paid
yes / no
Data affected
true
Bankruptcy
no
Entry point
Contact via social networks, followed by a video sex chat

What would cyber insurance have paid?

That depends on the terms. Whether those affected were insured: unknown.

  • Extortion

    Sextortion, ransomware on your own device

    Mostly no information 13 of 29 private products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.

  • Cyberbullying and defamation

    Removing content, psychological support

    Mostly covered 21 of 29 private products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.

Overview based on public policy terms, as of 06.11.2026. Only your policy and its general terms and conditions (GTC) are binding. No confirmation of cover.

What we can learn

In the case of sextortion, block the contact, do not pay and file a criminal complaint, as this victim did.

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Sources

Similar cases