The FBI on Friday issued a warning that minors are being sexually exploited online and blackmailed into paying a sum to avoid having illicit material leaked.
The agency said that the “disturbing trend” is known as “sextortion” and it typically targets male teenagers between the ages of 14 to 17, but anyone can be a victim.
“Several young people have taken their own life based on the feelings of fear and shame that result from sextortion and subsequent financial targeting,” Donald Alway, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office said in a press release Friday. “Whether you’re a parent, guardian, educator, coach or have some role in the life of a young person, please talk to them about this crime and how to avoid becoming a victim.”
The people committing these crimes, according to the FBI, are often outside of the United States and usually pretend to be a child of a similar age as the victim in order to gain their trust.
In some instances, suspects sometimes hack legitimate accounts known to victims or create “copycat” accounts to make it appear as though it is someone they know, according to the FBI.
The suspects will then attempt to entice the victim into performing sexual acts through a video call and record it without their knowledge, or ask them to send sexually explicit images, according to the FBI.
They then threaten to release these videos or images of the victim unless money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or order payments are sent to the perpetrator, according to the FBI.
If a victim refuses to cooperate or send any videos, the suspects will create fake images, called deepfakes, of the person performing sexual acts.
“In some instances, offenders send the sexually explicit images or videos to family members or friends—even if the victims pay,” according to the FBI. “Offenders have even extorted family members of victims who have committed suicide.”
Those victims most vulnerable to being lured by these suspects are children with access the internet via online gaming, gaming consoles, live-streaming or video platforms, instant message apps and social media, according to the FBI.
“Victims often feel alone, embarrassed, and too afraid to seek help,” according to the FBI. “It’s important for victims to understand they are not alone. Children should understand that any image or video—sexually explicit or otherwise—is completely out of their control as soon as it is transmitted.”
To help prevent such crimes, the FBI suggests parents speak with their children about the dangers of having an online presence, including being mindful about what they share online; being wary of first-time encounters with online strangers, and understanding that not everyone is who they claim to be.
If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim of “sextortion,” contact your local FBI field office at FBI.gov or report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
The FBI asks possible victims to not delete communications with suspects before law enforcement have a chance to review them, and to be open about sharing details, regardless of how embarrassing they may be, as the information will be “crucial” for prosecution.
For more information about “sextortion” and tips about how to prevent it, click here.