Sexual extortion in the web has become an incredibly common cyber crime, according to a study by the Brookings Institution, a think tank American.
Known in the US as "SEXTORTION" crime it is to use nude photos of someone to push that person boldest images or in exchange for other goods.
Most victims are children, and the perpetrators are generally men who abuse several people, the study said. As for adult victims are usually women, he adds.
Embarrassed, the victims prefer, mainly, to remain anonymous, says the study.
And while US law enforcement authorities recognize the problem, no agency or group has a record of it, add the Brookings Institution.
Depending on where in the United States occurs, crime can be classified as child pornography, harassment, extortion or hacking. But sexual extortion as a crime in itself does not exist, the organization abounded.
Moreover, the punishment varies depending on whether it is judged in a state or federal court. The study found that a man accused of extorting 22 victims, had as a state court sentence one year in prison.
But another who was tried in federal court by a victim, was sentenced to 12 years.
Sexual extortion may involve entering the computer someone to steal a photo or erotic or intimate video, or take control of a foreign webcam, and then use the content to extort the victim.