Deception (social engineering): Private individual, USA 2022
Two brothers from Lagos used a hacked Instagram account to pose as a girl of the same age, obtained intimate pictures of the 17-year-old and then demanded money.
- Incident · 03.2022 · Michigan (Marquette), USA
- Evidence: confirmed by an authority
- Deception (social engineering)
- Account takeover
- Fraud
As of
What happened
The teenager took his own life in March 2022. The perpetrators were extradited and in September 2024 were each sentenced by a US federal court to 210 months in prison; they had more than 100 victims.
- Affected
- Private individual (anonymous)
- Industry
- Private individual
- Loss
- no reliable figure
- Business interruption
- unknown
- Ransom demanded / paid
- yes / unknown
- Data affected
- true
- Bankruptcy
- no
- Entry point
- Hacked Instagram account that the perpetrators used to pose as a young woman
What would cyber insurance have paid?
That depends on the terms. Whether those affected were insured: unknown.
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Sextortion, ransomware on your own device
Mostly no information 13 of 29 private products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.
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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, do not pay, break off contact, keep evidence and immediately involve parents or the police; shame is the perpetrators’ lever.
Sources
- Nigerian brothers sentenced to prison in sextortion case that led to Michigan teen's death (opens in a new window) CBS News Detroit · 2024-09
- 2 Nigerian brothers sentenced for sextortion that led to teen's death (opens in a new window) ABC News (AP) · 2024-09