Online Predator Blackmails Child
A worried woman contacted deputies at 7 pm to report that an online predator was targeting a child staying with her for the summer.
The predator had used the Snap Chat app to get photos from the child’s phone and blackmailed them for $20, threatening to release embarrassing photos and tell people they were of the child’s private parts.
The woman said the photos weren’t even of the child, but the child was afraid they might be sent to other people and get the child in trouble.
Officers advised the woman to close the Snapchat and CashApp accounts and to contact the bank.
An increasing number of teenagers and even younger kids are falling victim to sextortion scams.
According to the FBI, thousands of children are targeted every year. They typically range in age from 10 to 17, but the crime can happen to people of any age.
These predators usually pretend to be the same age as their victims though sometimes they represent themselves as a friendly adult.
The FBI says that once the victim is either bullied or charmed into providing the images, the victimization can last for years. Children have attempted suicide in an effort to escape from these predators.
Also, read this disturbing but essential article.
The Dark Side of Artificial Intelligence: The Exploitation of AI in Sextortion
How To Protect Kids
There are steps adults can take to help protect kids from this crime.
- Make sure they know it exists and that they should never share sexually explicit images or videos with anyone.
- Tell them to tell you immediately if anyone threatens them online. Make sure they know online predators can’t get to their families and that they should tell you immediately.
- Tell them that anyone who asks them to engage in sexually explicit online behavior needs to be reported.
- Make sure kids know that if they’ve fallen victim to this scam, they aren’t in trouble. The person who asked for the images is.
- Make sure to monitor their computer activities and check all apps downloaded to mobile devices.
- Don’t let kids use a webcam without an adult present.
- Set the privacy settings on all their accounts to the highest level possible.