A 16-year-old American schoolboy, Evan Boettler, has taken his own life after being blackmailed by a fake Snapchat account traced to a cybercrime network in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to a BBC investigation, Boettler from Missouri died just 90 minutes after receiving threatening messages from a user posing as a teenage girl under the name JennyTee60. The account had reportedly persuaded him to share explicit images before demanding money and threatening to leak them.
One of the messages sent to him read: “I have your nudes and everything needed to ruin your life.”
Investigators later traced the Snapchat account to an IP address in Lagos, uncovering an organized s3xtortion syndicate locally known as Yahoo Boys. These groups, often operating from so-called “Hustle Kingdoms,” specialize in online scams targeting young people in Western countries.
One of the scammers, identified only as Ola, admitted to using fake identities to lure victims. “You open a female account using fake names from fake generators,” he said. When asked about remorse, he added: “I don’t feel bad because I need the money.”
Authorities revealed that teenage boys are often the main targets of such schemes because they are more vulnerable to threats of exposure. Some networks reportedly employ “cyber-spiritualists” who perform rituals believed to shield scammers from arrest or enhance their manipulative powers.
The FBI reported that s3xtortion cases in the U.S. more than doubled in recent years, surpassing 55,000 cases in 2024, while the UK’s National Crime Agency receives an average of 110 reports each month.
Technology companies, including Meta and Snapchat, have pledged stronger safety measures. Meta said it has invested over $30 billion in user protection, while Snapchat stated it maintains “zero tolerance for s3xtortion” and cooperates with law enforcement to identify offenders.
However, the investigation into Boettler’s death reportedly stalled after Nigerian telecommunications provider GloWorld failed to retain crucial data linked to the IP address used by the scammer.
Nearly two years later, Evan’s parents, Kari and Brad Boettler, say they are still seeking justice and calling for stronger international action to combat online s3xual exploitation.