“In reality, there is no way to protect ourselves,” McGlynn says. “Almost everyone has a social media presence of some sort and many cases of deepfake sexual abuse and the use of nudify apps are by friends and followers.” She also explains that it’s important we don’t place the responsibility for these forms of abuse on victims.

It’s a personal choice, of course, but I don’t want to hide. Especially as McGlynn tells me that’s sometimes the primary goal. “Deepfake sexual abuse is often an attempt to silence women,” she says. “To push us out of public life.”

If you’re affected by a similar scam, there are different recommended steps you can take. I asked Charlotte Hooper, operations director at The Cyber Helpline, what the best plan of action is.

“If this happens to a child, immediately report to the police, to Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and report the content on the website [that it appears on],” she says. “But be careful of gathering evidence, eg saving screenshots or downloading the content, as this is an offence in and of itself.”

If it happens to an adult, report it to the police or Action Fraud and contact a helpline like the Revenge Porn Helpline and The Cyber Helpline for guidance. As with all scams, the key is to try and remain as calm as possible. “Seek help and try your best not to panic. Receiving these emails might seem terrifying, a threat to your privacy and safety, and violating. However, remember that support is out there and you are not alone,” Hooper says.

“I was the target of an AI nudes scam, and it could happen to you too – this is what everyone needs to know”