Opinion: Cyberpredators are targeting teen boys with a new scam, sometimes with a tragic end

Financial sextortion has been reported as the fastest-growing crime targeting children in North America. According to reports by the FBI, Federal Trade Commission and Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), it is happening at alarming rates.

Paul Raffile of the NCRI told me “virtually all males on social media are targeted,” which is what I see day in and day out in the Treasure Valley.

Of the 100s of victims I have spoken to, what concerns me is most victims said that they thought of suicide.

One victim who impacted my understanding of sextortion stands out in my mind. I called him due to another victim’s report. He told me he had been a victim for the past six months. I was the first person he had talked to about it, and before my call, he had decided he was going to end his life.

“It doesn’t feel real because it has been so long I have been dealing with it. I was stressed after I cut them off yesterday but today, I feel I am better,” he said.

The trend is growing at an alarming pace:

• The FBI reported more than 25 youth suicides since 2021

• One study found hat 65% of youth have been targeted or know someone who has

• The FBI reported a 1,000% increase in the last 18 months

• NCRI reported a 7,200% increase in sextortion targeting children from 2021

Sextortion is a cyber-related fraud, and in each case the victim exchanges sexually explicit pictures or “nudes” which are then used to extort them. The main financial target is males ages 13 to 25. Females are targeted as well, but the difference is the victims are extorted into sending additional photographs and videos, and in some cases meeting in person.

In these crimes, suspects use fake social media accounts comprised of pictured “catfish” from other social media accounts to contact victims on social media. Sextortion can happen on any platform, but it is common for it to start on Instagram and then move to Snapchat. If pictures are exchanged, suspects will videotape or screenshot them. The next communication the victim receives after is something like:

“Hey, I have your nudes and everything needed to ruin your life. I have screenshots of all your followers and tags and those that comment on your posts. I can send these nudes to everyone in your city till it goes viral or send this all females on your list and your family if you don’t cooperate.”

The victim is bombarded with threats. The objective is to put the victim into a state of panic. And it works.

Dr. Scott Hadland, chief of adolescent medicine at Mass General in Boston, explained to CNN: “Teen brains are still developing so when something catastrophic happens, like a personal picture is released to people online, it’s hard for them to look past that moment and understand that in the big scheme of things they’ll be able to get through this.”

Suspects use emotion and secrecy to continue to isolate and manipulate their victims to not report. It is crucial that teens know they have someone to turn to. Having an open line of communication with your kids is imperative.

If it does happen think of it like “stop, drop and roll” but for sextortion it’s: “stop, block and report.”

• Stop: Breathe and know you’re going to be ok. Do not pay. If you pay, they will ask for more money.

• Block all contact: Consider deleting your social media accounts.

• Report: Report the profile. Report to your support source whoever that is. Report to law enforcement.

• Screenshot all communications for the report.

It is much easier to prevent something than stop it after the fact. With communication and awareness, sextortion can be prevented. I encourage all families to talk and develop a scam plan. The scam talk may be as important as the birds and bees talk in today’s technology-driven culture. – The Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service