The super-connected world we live in can have a dark side. Sextortion case are becoming more common. FBI data shows in 2018, victims of extortion paid over $83 million to keep someone from exposing compromising material. That number includes sextortion victims who paid up to prevent photos or video of them of a sexual nature from going public.
The goal of those committing this crime is usually to force victims to hand over money or share more sexual content. Sextortion can often be organized crime where victims are targeted via dating apps, social media or webcams. Huntsville police say they have had cases of it happening between a couple who has broken up.
“The mere fact that someone poses that threat in exchange for money– they’ve already committed the crime,” said Lt. Michael Johnson, a spokesman for the Huntsville Police Department.
In that case, the victim had actually sent out ransom money through their bank, but the bank recognized it was a scam based on the receiving address and the bank returned the money to him.
In cases like this, Huntsville police say they they prefer you reach out to them as soon as any threat is made.
“Notify us and let us attempt to intervene,” said Johnson. “We definitely don’t want you to give them money, because who knows, they could still do it. They could still do what they said they were going to do.”
Johnson says the most important thing to consider though are the ages.
“Depending on those ages, they may be touching on child porn laws, which are felonies,” he said.
Sexually explicit content is considered child porn if it involves someone 17 years old or younger.
Predators are targeting young people through social media and gaming apps — trying to entice them to send explicit content — and even blackmailing them. Parents should talk with kids about the dangers involved with sharing photos and videos online with others.
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