Man took his own life after 'sextortion' blackmail involving AI-generated woman
a day ago
- A 41-year-old man in Auckland was tricked by an AI-generated persona named 'Donna Chase' into sharing sexually explicit images and then blackmailed, leading him to take his own life.
- The coroner ruled the sextortion was the primary factor in his death and issued a warning about the dangers of such scams.
- The victim was under stress due to a relative's death, relationship breakup, medical leave, and financial issues, but had no significant mental health history.
- Police believe the scam was run by an overseas organized criminal network, and the blackmailer demanded money via bank transfer and Steam gift cards.
- This is the second sextortion-related suicide in New Zealand in 2023–2024, following a teenage victim who also killed himself after being blackmailed.
- Netsafe advises victims to not pay, block the scammer, secure social media, report to platforms, and use tools like Take It Down or StopNCII for image removal.
- The coroner emphasized that sextortion can cause extreme emotional distress and financial loss, and in this case, led to the loss of a father, partner, and friend.