Financial sextortion is a growing issue affecting children and families in our state and around the country. Sextortion happens when someone tricks a person into sending explicit photos then demands something in return for not sharing the photos. The extortionist often demands more pictures, videos, a meeting for sex acts or money. The recent rise in cases has primarily been financial sextortion – simple blackmail. 

A Growing Problem

Law enforcement nationwide received more than 7,000 reports related to online financial sextortion involving children in 2022, according to the FBI. They identified at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys. Tragically, more than twenty children committed suicide because they felt there was no way out from the sextortion scheme. 

FBI data shows a large portion of these cases originate outside the U.S., primarily in West African countries. That makes these cases extremely difficult to investigate or prosecute. Prevention is the best way to keep children safe.

Communication is Key

It is important for parents and trusted adults to have ongoing, open lines of communication with the children in their lives. Children need to know they have somewhere to turn. 

If you believe a child has been victimized, let them know they haven’t done anything wrong and they can come to you if this or something like it happens to them. They are not in trouble, they are not alone, and there is help available. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and caregivers can take if their child falls victim to a sextortion scheme:

• Get help before deciding to pay. Cooperating with the demands rarely stops the extortion or harassment.
• Report the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
• Block the predator but do not delete the profile or messages because they could be useful to law enforcement.
• Use available resources to help remove images from online platforms.

One Family’s Story of Sextortion

Watch this video about how quickly criminals manipulated a Minnesota teenage boy into sending explicit pictures of himself. Thankfully, he turned to a trusted adult for help.