I don't see what criminal law they would be breaking ....
(I'm sure some lawyer could try to twist something but it is pretty unlikely under these circumstances)
The victims who have assets or a house probably should avoid making a claim as they have something to lose.
Those who do not have much in assets, they get basically a free crack if a lawyer helps them or they can handle it pro se. That makes them harder to discourage. A lawyer might take the case on a contingency basis. They have little to lose financially. They may well get a settlement out of court with a counterclaim.
But the BIG fear for the accused and those associated with them would be discovery. A bunch of the Epstein files could find their way into the proceedings. And a bunch of the testimony and evidence could come out in court - like we saw with the E Jean Carroll lawsuit. Even if the accusers lose the case, a bunch of the story gets out about what Epstein and those who befriended him were up to with these young girls. Maybe some of the victims band together.
The danger for those that come forward is they could wind up like Epstein. I suspect a bunch of the victims - many who we will probably never know about - got bought off or scared off.
Epstein & Maxwell have been convicted beyond a reasonable doubt. The legal bar for a civil action is much lower: preponderance of the evidence. So these accusers may have a decent shot at prevailing.