Vile sextortion of online kids has now hit an all-time high

Shocking figures from across the UK. Dinal, 16, took own life after threats

- NICK SOMMERLAD

AS MANY as 100 children per day are falling victim to sextortion scams, experts are warning.

A probe has found the number of under-18s being blackmailed over naked photos is up by thousands in two years.

It has been called a "hideous crime". Some victims, such as 16-year-old Dinal De Alwis, have taken their own lives.

Sean Sutton, a senior officer at the National Crime Agency's threat leadership command, said: "A lot of the victims feel culpable.

"Our message is, 'You have done nothing wrong! "Even the smartest of people have been tricked by these awful offenders... It's a hideous crime.

They have no concern for victims.

"They are intent on destroying lives, or saying they will." The agency's child sexual abuse threat team told us that financially motivated sexual extortion of children is increasing and targets all social media apps.

Our analysis of police crime reports obtained through Freedom of Information requests shows criminals scour a wide range of platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, to target children.

The apps most often used are Snapchat and Instagram.