Children are increasingly becoming targets of sextortion, the FBI said this week. That means they’re being enticed to send sexually explicit photos to strangers, who then ask for more photos or money.
Even when the young victims send what’s requested, the scammers often demand more money and continue the threats, according to the FBI.
In a six-month period from October 2022 to March 2023, the FBI recorded a 20% increase in reporting of financially motivated sextortion cases involving minor victims compared to the same time period the previous year. In Atlanta, the FBI office received 196 complaints of sextortion last year, a 700% increase in reports since 2021.
It’s a stark reminder that parents, caregivers and educators must monitor online activities of children.
“The internet is a very important and useful resource, but unfortunately can be used for illegal activity as criminals seek to prey on the most vulnerable of our population,” Keri Farley, special agent of the FBI’s Atlanta office, said in a statement. “Let this be a reminder to parents and caregivers, people can pretend to be anyone online, and you need to remain vigilant with monitoring your child’s online activity and educating them about the risks of communicating with strangers.”
FBI investigators say sextortion victims are typically males between the ages of 14 to 17, but any child can become a victim. For financially motivated sextortion, offenders are usually located outside the U.S. and primarily in west African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines.
When the scammers are identified and prosecuted, the penalties are severe.
In September 2020, a Cobb County man who convinced young girls to send him sexually explicit photos and videos was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office previously said.
Benjamin Jenkins of Mableton was convicted of nine counts of producing child pornography and three counts of distributing child pornography. If the teenage girls didn’t cooperate with Jenkins’ demands for more photos, he would publish the images or send them to the girls’ family and friends, according to prosecutors.
“The consequences of sextortion are being felt across the country,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the statement. “We and our partners will relentlessly pursue criminals who perpetuate this deplorable activity.”
Victims of sextortion may blame themselves or feel alone, according to experts. Instead, the youngest victims should inform a trusted adult, who should then contact law enforcement.
“Victims may feel like there is no way out,” Wray said. “It is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone.”
HOW TO GET HELP
If you or someone you know believes they are a victim of sextortion or financially motivated sextortion, immediately report the activity to law enforcement. Report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
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