The idea of exploiting someone sexually is, unfortunately, nothing new. It can happen to anyone, but recently young people are increasingly falling victim to what is commonly called “sextortion.” Vulnerable teenagers can become easy prey for online manipulators who coerce them into sending sexually explicit images of themselves, either using threats or by pretending to be another romantically interested teen. But this terrible trend becomes even more complicated when money enters the picture.
The FBI reports “a huge increase” recently in financial sextortion. In these specific cases, the offender not only convinces a child to send them nude photos or videos — they also threaten to share this intimate material with the teen’s friends and family unless they agree to send a payment of cash or gift cards.
“The amount requested varies, and the offender often releases the victim’s sexually explicit material regardless of whether or not they receive payment,” the bureau explains. “This increasing threat has resulted in an alarming number of deaths by suicide.”
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which takes cases of financial sextortion very seriously, tells us that reports of sextortion to NCMEC’s CyberTipline have historically involved child predators targeting underage females to have them produce sexually explicit videos or photos. “While this still occurs, more recently NCMEC’s CyberTipline has experienced a significant increase in reports related to underage males being targeted to produce explicit images and then blackmailed for financial payment,” says John Shehan, NCMEC’s senior vice president for the Exploited Children Division & International Engagement.
NCMEC is directly aware of more than 20 young boys who have died by suicide as a result of a scheme like this. But even in less extreme cases, this experience is an excruciating one for not only the teens involved, but also their families, as was powerfully illustrated in this upsetting story in The New York Times this week.
We spoke with Shehan about the effects of sextortion and what to do if your child becomes a victim.
Katie Couric Media: What has NCMEC observed about why these incidents become such an urgent concern for boys in particular?
John Shehan: This more recent trend regularly involves overseas offenders presenting themselves as an attractive female of a similar age, who use popular social media platforms to target their victims. These fake accounts and interactions lead the young boys to let their guard down, believing they may have met an attractive romantic partner, only to realize they are being blackmailed. Once the imagery is exchanged, the extorters escalate very quickly, within minutes or hours, including threats of blackmail and violence, if they are not sent payment.
Just last month, NCMEC released “No Escape Room,” an interactive film that follows the story of a 15-year-old boy’s exploitation online. The film is based on dozens of real-life CyberTipline reports of financial sextortion, and you can see it here.
How would you describe the mental health impact on a young person who’s being threatened with having their nude photos posted online?
Unfortunately, victims of sextortion often feel like they have no control over what is happening to them or that they have no way out. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has seen cases where children have become withdrawn, depressed, or even result to self-harm when their images were shared online, or they live in constant fear that one day they will be. We are aware of more than two dozen male minors who have committed suicide because of the financial sextortion scam.
Victims often worry that the explicit imagery could destroy their reputations or their chances of getting into college, or make their families and friends disappointed in them. Anyone who finds themselves in this situation needs to know that help is available and most importantly this is not their fault.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sextortion, please reach out for help. You are not alone, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has resources to help you.
Has NCMEC found success working with teens through your Take It Down service? What has been the general response from families who use the service when a child has been victimized?
This service has been a lifeline to those who felt nothing could be done. If a person believes a sexually explicit photo of them is online from when they were under the age of 18, they now have a place to turn to get that image removed. Since we launched the service in 2022, NCMEC has received more than 70,000 submissions and we regularly hear from families that this service has allowed for peace of mind and a way to take action.
What is the most important thing to know as a parent of a child who’s being victimized by financial sextortion?
As the parent of a victim of sextortion, it’s important to remember that the offender is to blame, not your child. The people who are sextorting our teens are smart and move very quickly. We have to encourage our teens to communicate with us when they’re in a situation that’s causing alarm and remind them that this is a crime. Remind them that you’re here to support them and assist them in getting the help they need to move forward.
Victims of sextortion may feel overwhelmed or like there is no way out, but there’s hope. They are not alone, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is here to help. If a child in your life is a victim of sextortion, encourage them to make a report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline, and if they have unwanted imagery online, the free program Take It Down can help them remove explicit imagery from the internet. If you prefer to speak to someone, our 24-hour call center is available at 1-800-843-5678.
