'Female' used in African scam before Aussie boy's death

The alleged scammers, found in a Nigerian slum, were charged with sextortion offences in March after a joint investigation between Australian, South African and Nigerian authorities.

The Australian victim, whose parents do not want to be identified, took his life in 2023 after he shared personal photos with the scammers, who pretended to be a European-looking woman, police allege.

It's alleged the cyber criminals threatened to share the boy's photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500.

Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft said the boy interacted with the scammers for six or seven hours after they used a "scattergun" approach to source targets.

"It was certainly two males who were engaging our victim purporting to be a scantily-clad female. In my view looking at her she'd be European of some description," Det Supt Craft said on Monday.

"It's always the case that there's some scantily-clad female in various states of undress that's provided and that should be a trigger.

"If you're engaging with someone and all of a sudden the conversation becomes sexualised it's an opportunity for you to perhaps disengage."

He warned young Australians to be on the lookout for sex-based e-scammers after a 400 per cent spike in sextortion cases in the past 18 months.

"The good news is people are reporting it and there are steps we can take to help you before it goes too far," Det Supt Craft said.

"We want young people to continue to report these cases and to never be embarrassed to talk to police."

The alleged offenders will be dealt with in Nigeria where local authorities can prosecute for Australia-based offences, police say.

The federal government warns that internet fraud, including fake online friendship, dating and marriage schemes often originates in Nigeria, an impoverished west African nation of 218 million people.

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Australian Associated Press