Podcast Summary: "Las sextorsiones ya son la modalidad criminal que más crece"

Podcast: Más de uno
Host: OndaCero (Carlos Alsina)
Section: Territorio negro con Manu Marlasca y Luis Rendueles
Date: January 26, 2026

Overview

This episode of Más de uno spotlights the rapid rise of "sextorsiones" (sextortion schemes) as a prevalent form of cybercrime in Spain. Manu Marlasca and Luis Rendueles dissect how these scams operate, their psychological tactics, and the devastating personal and financial consequences for victims. The segment aims to serve both as crime reportage and public service, alerting listeners to the mechanics and dangers of these offenses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Prevalence of Sextorsión

• What is Sextorsión?

  • It involves blackmail with a sexual motivation, typically perpetrated online, often without direct physical contact or real-life confrontation.

    “Sextorsión, que es un chantaje con un motivo sexual.”
    (Rendueles, 00:49)

• Why is it Growing?

  • The anonymity, distance, and low logistical risk for perpetrators makes it highly appealing.

    “Para los malos tiene muchas ventajas. Es una estafa a distancia. No tienen que ver a la víctima, no tienen que tocarla, no tiene siquiera que usar armas...”
    (Rendueles, 00:55)

• Statistics

  • Police report thousands of cases, making it the fastest-growing crime modality in Spain.

    “Tuvo miles de víctimas en España solo el año pasado.”
    (Rendueles, 00:34)

2. The Mechanics of the Scam

• How Victims are Targeted

  • Fraudulent erotic websites entice men with offers to meet women, providing contact details to initiate communication via WhatsApp or phone.
  • Some scam sites even warn against upfront payments to fake a sense of security.

• The Hook

  • Once the victim reaches out, scammers claim they've wasted the (fictional) woman’s time and demand compensation.

• Audio Example

  • A real extortion call illustrates the tactic:

    “Yo soy un trabajador, como lo puedes ser tú... cogemos el problema de inmediato y ya está. Porque si no quieres zanjar el problema, dímelo ya y lo dejo en manos de mi jefe…”
    (Extorsionador, 02:31)

3. Escalation of Threats and Demands

• Initial Payment

  • The first sum demanded is usually “asequible”—between 200 and 400 euros—low enough that some victims pay without protest to avoid exposure.

• Repeated Extortion

  • If the first payment is made, the blackmail continues, with rising sums and more severe threats each time:

    “Cuando estos grupos criminales te cogen, ven que has mordido, ya no te sueltan, intentan sangrarte hasta el final... te piden más dinero después del primer pago. Mucho más. Dos, tres, cuatro veces...”
    (Rendueles, 03:39)

• Threats Intensify

  • Subsequent calls contain grave threats, such as confronting the victim in person or levying huge “multas” (fines):

    “No somos proxeneta de polígono ni de rotonda, no te equivoques. Yo le pongo 10.000, 20.000 euros de multa a tu persona y te juro que no puedes tomar ni café ni con tu familia.”
    (Extorsionador, 04:11)

4. Psychological Manipulation & Impact

• Effectiveness

  • The threats, though empty, instill deep fear. Perpetrators use menacing images sent via WhatsApp to amplify terror (guns, masked figures, etc.).

• Reality Check

  • Police investigations found no real-world violence, confirming that the threats are bluffs.

    “No encontraron ni un solo caso real de sicario sexual... Pero es verdad que meten mucho miedo, ya lo hemos escuchado, es innegable.”
    (Marlasca, 04:29)

• Emotional Damage

  • Many victims suffer severe psychological harm and financial ruin, with some driven to the brink of suicide.

    “Sí encontraron decenas de hombres arruinados económicamente y totalmente rotos por la presión hasta un caso de un intento de suicidio.”
    (Rendueles, 05:14)

5. Barriers to Reporting

• Shame and Silence
  • Most victims avoid reporting these crimes out of embarrassment, often seeking help only when the situation is dire.

    “Las víctimas no suelen denunciar por vergüenza… cuando lo hacen suele ser muy tarde, llegan ya muy machacados.”
    (Rendueles, 05:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the scam’s prevalence:

  “Es la modalidad criminal que más ha crecido y que tuvo miles de víctimas en España solo el año pasado.”
  (Rendueles, 00:34)

• On the psychological pressure:

  “Para que el terror crezca todavía más, lo que hacen es enviar al WhatsApp de la víctima imágenes amenazantes...”
  (Marlasca, 04:29)

• On the devastating impact:

  “Decenas de hombres arruinados económicamente y totalmente rotos por la presión hasta un caso de un intento de suicidio.”
  (Rendueles, 05:14)

Key Timestamps

• 00:34 – Introduction of sextorsion and its rapid growth in Spain.
• 00:49 – Definition and explanation of how sextorsion works.
• 01:07 – How the scam is initiated and how victims are lured.
• 02:31 – Real audio of an extortionist's call.
• 03:39 – Discussion of repeated payments and escalating demands.
• 04:11 – Second extortion call with increased threats.
• 04:29 – Clarification that the threats are bluffs.
• 05:14 – Impact on victims, silence due to shame, and psychological damage.

Tone and Style

Marlasca and Rendueles maintain a direct, informative tone, interspersed with dark humor (“el españolito trasteando por redes”) and colloquial expressions (“al pringao, al primo, a la ví”) to emphasize both the commonality of the scam and the vulnerability of its targets.

Final Takeaway

This episode dispels myths about sextortion, reveals the manipulative tactics used by scammers, and urges public vigilance. The message is clear: victims should not feel ashamed, and seeking help early is vital.