Sextortion cases are on the rise, with the FBI warning parents that the number of reports has skyrocketed dramatically and that boys between the ages of 14 and 17 are being targeted.
A report from Snap, the company behind the app Snapchat, found that 65% of teens say they’ve been targeted by criminals asking for nude photos on social media, or that they know someone they know. There is. Sextortion is carried out by online criminals for financial gain or real-world access to their victims.
Here’s how blackmail typically happens: The victim, usually a young man, meets what he thinks is a pretty girl. They usually make contact through social media or online video game communities, but the girl is actually a scammer.
After establishing a friendship of sorts, the perpetrator poses as a girl and asks the victim to exchange nude photos, and then sends nude photos to the boy as well. The photo was found online by the scammer. Once victims receive nude photos, they are pressured to send photos of themselves, which they do.
After a few minutes or a day or two, the scammer contacts the victim again and requests more photos.
At some point, the criminal sends a message saying he wants more photos or money, and if the victim doesn’t follow his instructions, the criminal threatens to share the nude photos with the victim’s friends on social media. In some cases, criminals may search a victim’s social media accounts to learn where the victim lives or attends school.
Victims often feel embarrassed and share more photos or send money to stop the criminals from sharing them.
The FBI warns parents that in most reported cases, even if the victim sends more photos or money, the perpetrator continues to demand more. Victims are often too scared or embarrassed to report the scam to the police or even tell a friend.
In South Carolina, a young man committed suicide after a sextortion incident. Parents should talk to their children about the dangers of sharing nude photos. If you believe you or someone you know may have been targeted, you can report it by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Copyright 2024 WILX. All rights reserved.