AI-generated explicit video used in sextortion attempt against Malaysian teenager
A teenager in Malaysia received a Telegram message containing his photo and an AI-generated explicit video from an unknown sender demanding RM5,800, according to a report. The boy reported the incident to school staff and police rather than complying with the extortion demand.
What happened
Around 11:40 p.m., a teenage boy in Malaysia received a message on Telegram from an unknown sender with no phone number. The message contained a personal photo of the boy and an AI-generated explicit video, with a demand for RM5,800 and threats to release the fabricated footage if he did not comply.
The boy did not panic and sought advice from a trusted school contact who had experience helping another student who had faced a similar attack. His mother reported the incident to police the following morning.
Reported impact
Police officers told the family that this scheme is becoming increasingly common, with scammers using AI deepfake tools to create fake explicit content and threatening victims with exposure unless they pay. The officers warned that people of any age can be targeted.
Governance controls
Police advised that people experiencing similar harassment should document everything, not pay the extortionists, and report incidents to police and the platform immediately.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.