By India McCarty
Online sextortion is on the rise, especially for young people. Here’s what parents need to know if your child has fallen victim to one of these online scams.
“Sextortion involves an offender coercing a minor to create and send sexually explicit images or video,” a report from the FBI explained. “An offender gets sexually explicit material from the child, then threatens to release that compromising material unless the victim produces more. These offenders are seeking sexual gratification.”
Offenders can also “threaten to release that compromising material unless they receive payment, which is often requested in gift cards, mobile payment services, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
The report stated victims are “typically males between the ages of 14 to 17” but stressed that “any child can become a victim” of these sextortion schemes.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently reported that it has received “more than 500,000 reports of sextortion scams targeting minors in just the last year.”
Generative AI has made these kinds of scams even easier, as perpetrators can use the tech to create fake images that look real.
“You don’t actually need any technical skills at this point to create this kind of illegal and harmful material,” Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, the head of data science at Thorn, a non-profit focused on preventing these kinds of crimes, told CBS News.
If your child has become involved in a sextortion scam, Bark, an online safety organization, told parents and guardians, “You’re not alone. Many families have faced this same issue, and there is help available. You can get through this, and you can help your child heal.”
The most important first steps are to “reassure your child they are not to blame” and thank your child for coming to you with this issue. Next, block the perpetrator on all social media platforms and don’t reply to any messages.
Related: Here’s What Parents Need to Know About Keeping Teens Safe From Sextortion Scams
It’s also important to gather evidence — for example, taking screenshots of all communication between your child and the perpetrator — as well as stop payment on money that might have already been sent.
After communication has been fully cut off from the perpetrator, it is vital to then report the crime to the authorities.
“Based on expert guidance, reporting is strongly recommended,” Bark wrote. “It may help stop the criminal, prevent others from being hurt, and get your child additional support.”
First, contact your local police department and file a detailed report, with all evidence you’ve gathered. Next, reach out to larger organizations that specialize in these kinds of crimes, like NCMEC’s Cyber TipLine and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
After the crime has been properly reported, it is important to “stay calm and open” with your child, avoiding any punishments, as this can increase their shame and fear surrounding the situation.
“Let them know you’re always there to talk, listen, or just sit quietly together. Healing doesn’t happen overnight,” Bark shared, adding that making an appointment for your child with a therapist would also be a good idea.
Sextortion is a very serious issue that can negatively impact the young people in your life. It’s vitally important to be aware of what your child is doing online and to know what to do if they get tangled up in one of these online scams.
Read Next: Sextortionists Target Teen Boys on Popular Social Media Platforms
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