PRESS RELEASE. The FBI Columbia Field Office has issued a warning this week to parents and caregivers about a rise in nationwide incidents involving the sextortion of children over the internet.
Sextortion is a crime. It is illegal for an adult to ask for, pay for, or demand graphic images, as known as child sexual abuse material, from a minor. If convicted, offenders face penalties up to life in prison.
The FBI has received increased reports of adults on social media and online gaming systems, posing as adolescents, who coerce children to produce sexual images and videos, and then extort money from them. The most targeted group are males ranging from 14 to 17 years old. After they have sent the material, the predator informs them that they will post the content online fi the victim does not send money.
The FBI believes cases may be underreported because children are afraid of the repercussions threatened by the criminal and/or fear the response from their parents or law enforcement.
“The victims of these crimes may be afraid to come forward, so it’s important to have conversations with your children about their activities online,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Susan Ferensic. “If you or a family member has been a victim of this crime, reporting may led to holding a criminal accountable and prevent further victims.”
The FBI offers the following tips to better protect you and your children online:
Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you or your children.
Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online.
Be suspicious if you meet someone on a game or app and they ask you to communicate with them on a different platform.
Encourage your children to report suspicious behavior ro a trusted adult.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sextortion, contact the FBI Columbia office at 803-551-4200 or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Do not delete anything before law enforcement is able to review it.
Tell law enforcement everyone about the encounters. It be may embarrassing, but it is necessary in finding the offender.
