FBI warns parents about increasing ‘sextortion’ schemes involving teen boys

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The FBI is warning parents of teen boys about the increasing online “sextortion” schemes. 
• Reports say adults pose as young girls to urge young boys to produce sexual images and videos and then extort them for money. 
• Last month, a 17-year-old Michigan boy committed suicide after becoming a victim of sextortion.

The FBI warns parents about an increase in sextortion involving young boys. The boys are being tricked into sending sexual images and videos to adults pretending to be young girls.

FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office announced Thursday about receiving dozens of complaints involving teen boys who were reported victims of sextortion.

“With the ubiquitous nature of modern technology, our children are increasingly vulnerable targets for online predators,” said Kristi Johnson, the assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles Division, said in a statement.

The usual modus begins with an adult contacting a minor over any social media platform. The FBI syas the predator usually poses as a young girl to convince a boy to engage in explicit activity which is secretly recorded. The predator then threatens the boy — usually between 14 and 17 years old — that they will post the video online if they don’t pay some money.

Many of the predators are not even in the U.S. and often demand money in increasing amounts after the initial payment, accordin to FBI officials.

Sextortion is a crime, and the FBI says a convicted offender can get a life sentence. Kids who have been the victim of sextortion may be traumatized and embarrassed but the FBI encourage them to come forward to a trusted adult. This will help the police catch such predators.

Last month, 17-year-old Jordan Demay killed himself after being put under extreme pressure to pay money in exchange for the nude pictures not being released online.

Jordan’s fate is similar to another sextortion that happened last year in New York. Riley Basford has just joined Facebook when he was blackmailed. The suspects demanded $3,500 from Basford or they’d expose his provocative photos online.

Basford committed suicide on March 30, 2021, at just 15 years old.

Sheriff Greg Zybert wants people to know it can happen to anybody.

Anyone who has been the victim of sextortion or knows someone should not delete anything before reporting it to law enforcement, then contact their local FBI field office, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Source: CBS News