"The children believe they are talking to someone of the same age, but in reality, they are speaking with someone completely different," says Mikael Ahrtzing, northern head of the police's division for internet-related sexual offenses against children.
According to the police, the perpetrators seek out the boys on social media and pretend to be a girl of the same age.
The "girl" sends nude pictures that they claim are of themselves and encourage the boys to do the same. Once the boys have sent nude pictures, the perpetrators threaten to distribute them unless they receive payment.
The method of extortion is very similar to the episode "Shut up and Dance" of British TV show, "Black Mirror".
The amounts involved can run into thousands of kronor.
Mikael Ahrtzing is the head of the internet sexual crimes against children unit and also works at the police fraud center.
He tells Norran that there have been several reports of boys from the north of Sweden being targeted.
– We need to inform parents that the most dangerous thing for children of this age, in my opinion, is not cycling home alone from floorball practice. The biggest danger is when they're alone with their phones and parents don't know what they're doing.
In some of the reported cases, the scammers have also forced the boys to allow their bank accounts to be used for money laundering.
– When criminal organizations need to launder their money, they need a money launderer, and that's when they involve the boy.
Is this part of a larger organized crime operation?
– I'm not saying it's gangs in these cases, but it could very well be. What we have seen is that this could be a way to find someone to launder money. You can think of the gangs as a big business; if the drug division is not doing well, they invest in fraud. That's how it works.
The fraudsters are very skilled and manipulative, he says.
– So it's crucial that we don't blame the children.
Police are now urging parents to talk to their children.
– Explain that they don't know who they're talking to and that they should never send naked pictures of themselves. The moment you send a picture, you no longer have control over it.
After tricking the boys into sending nude pictures, the scammers threaten to expose them if they don't pay money. "There is definitely a significant number of unreported cases," says police officer Mikael Ahrtzing. Stock image.
It's not about forbidding kids from using the apps, he explains.
– Kids communicate this way; you can't encourage them not to use social media. But you have to prepare them.
Parents should make it their business to be aware of what's happening around their children, he believes.
– When you say, 'Kids should have their privacy,' you're playing a very high-stakes game. They can end up in really bad situations.
Growing up, Mikael Ahrtzing heard from his parents that "if something goes wrong, you can always come to us." He believes children need to hear that their parents are there to help.
– That way they're not alone in a terrible situation. The child must have someone to turn to.