An increase in such incidents has led to FBI warnings aimed at “parents and caregivers” of young boys, particularly. An increasing number of reports received by the FBI include information that suggests that adults are posing as young girls to coerce young boys not only for personal pleasure but for monetary gains. This activity is defined as a sextortion scheme.
Increasing Reports of Sextortion Targeting Young Boys
Increasing reports are cropping up of adults posing as young girls online to attract young boys “to produce sexual images and videos,” otherwise known as CSAM abuse material, as well as later extorting money from them, the FBI said. Online predators are using “deception and manipulation” to convince young males in the age range of 14-17 years old “to engage in explicit activity over video, which is then secretly recorded by the predator,” the FBI added. Following this, the predator reveals that they have made recordings, blackmailing the young boys in this case to make a payment. If the victim does not comply, the predator threatens to post the recorded content online. “The embarrassment children feel from the activity they were forced to engage in is what typically prevents them from coming forward,” the FBI noted. In 2021, the FBI’s IC3 unit “received over 18,000 sextortion-related complaints” that led to financial losses of over $13.6 million. One example of other similar schemes is the “I know your password” sextortion email scams.
FBI Tips to Protect Children Online
Stopping sextortion threats orchestrated by online predators can be done via “awareness, education, and having important discussions with your children about their online safety,” a special agent in charge of WFO’s Criminal/Cyber Division Wayne Jacobs said. Victims of sextortion and their families or caregivers are strongly encouraged to come forward and notify the FBI immediately. The FBI has also provided the following tips to protect children online in the report: If parents, caregivers, or young individuals suspect sextortion or know somebody that is the victim, the FBI recommends the following: Also, do not hesitate to check out our full guide on how to prevent sextortion.
