By SDCN Editor
In an era dominated by online interactions, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is sounding the alarm on a disturbing trend known as sextortion, a growing threat that specifically targets minors.
Offenders are employing deceit and manipulation to coerce victims into creating sexually explicit material for extortion purposes, prompting a nationwide call to action from the FBI.
Parents, educators, caregivers, and children are being urged to be vigilant about the dangers of online activities that may lead to the solicitation and enticement of minors into engaging in sexual acts. Sextortion involves offenders forcing minors to create and send sexually explicit images or videos. These perpetrators then use the obtained material to threaten victims, demanding additional explicit content under the threat of releasing compromising material. The motivations behind such acts vary, with some seeking sexual gratification, while others are financially motivated.
Financially motivated sextortion takes the form of a criminal act, where offenders coerce minors into creating explicit material and demand payment to avoid the release of compromising content. Payments are often requested in the form of gift cards, mobile payment services, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The offenders in these cases are often located outside the United States, primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.
While victims of sextortion are typically males aged 14 to 17, any child can become a target. The consequences of these crimes are severe, often leading victims to self-harm and, tragically, suicide. Between October 2021 and March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, involving at least 12,600 victims, predominantly boys, and resulting in at least 20 suicides.
Disturbingly, the FBI observed a significant uptick in financially motivated sextortion incidents involving minors during the six-month period from October 2022 to March 2023, experiencing at least a 20% increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the far-reaching consequences of sextortion, stating, “The consequences of sextortion are being felt across the country.” He urged parents, educators, caregivers, and children to proactively learn about the steps they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to this crime. Wray reassured the public that the FBI and its partners are committed to relentlessly pursuing criminals engaged in this deplorable activity.
If you or someone you know believes they are a victim of sextortion or financially motivated sextortion, immediate reporting to law enforcement is crucial. The FBI encourages individuals to report such activities by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
For more information on sextortion and financial sextortion, the FBI provides valuable resources on these threats at fbi.gov/sextortion and fbi.gov/financialsextortion.
