Sextortion: What Is It, Who Is At Risk
On August 18, 2023, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing of H. 3583, Gavin’s Law., making sexual extortion an aggravated felony punishable by years in prison if the victim is a minor or vulnerable adult or if the victim suffers bodily injury or death directly related to the crime.
The bill was sponsored and introduced by South Carolina State House Rep. Brandon Guffey following the death by suicide of his 17-year-old son, Gavin. Like many parents, he had no idea that his son had been targeted for blackmail by “Sextortionists” over nude photos he’d sent to an online romantic interest.
The crime didn’t end with his son’s death. Within weeks Guffey and his family, including Gavin’s younger brother, received messages via Instagram demanding money or the photos would be released. Gavin had already paid them all he had, $25, by Venmo. No arrests have been made.
The FBI has seen a huge increase in the number of cases involving children and teens being threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online – a crime called sextortion.
Sextortion can start wherever people meet and communicate, on any site, app, messaging platform, or game.
This crime often starts when young people think they are in touch with someone their own age who’s interested in a relationship. In some cases, they will be contacted by a person who claims to already have a revealing picture or video, that will be shared if the victim does not send more pictures.
Once the criminals have photos or videos, they threaten to publish them unless the victim delivers more images.
The FBI has also seen at least a 20% increase in reports of financially motivated sextortion cases targeting minors from October 2021 to March 2023.
As in Gavin’s case, criminals receive sexually explicit material from the young person and then threaten to post it unless the victim sends money or gift cards. The amount varies, and the offender often releases the victim’s sexually explicit material anyway, whether they collect money or not.
Victims are usually young men between the ages of 14 to 17, but anyone at any age can become a target.
These crimes can lead victims to suicide. From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports that involved at least 12,600 victims—mostly males—and that resulted in at least 20 deaths by suicide.
How do young people get caught up in this? The people who commit this crime know how to reach and target children and teens.
One person caught by the FBI worked as a youth minister to learn how teens talked to each other. He then created social media profiles pretending to be a teenage girl. This “girl” would talk to boys online and ask them to send photos and videos.
Sometimes the idea of getting “something for nothing” traps them. One perpetrator offered money and new smartphones to his victims, others offered money or credits in a video game in exchange for a photo. For some kids, the criminal would demand images, or he promised to harm their family or friends.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children leads the fight to protect children online. Their TakeItDown works with various platforms to remove explicit content.
Parents want to believe “my child would never do that.” The FBI has interviewed victims as young as 8 of both genders, crossing all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. They have been top students, student athletes, children of teachers, lawyers, mechanics and yes, even State Representatives. The only thing these victims have in common? Internet access.
Why don’t the victims tell someone or ask for help? According to the FBI, it’s the child’s shame, fear, and embarrassment that prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse. These children are afraid of both the criminal and afraid they will be in trouble with their parents or guardians. Often the sextortionist will tell them that they are responsible for sending child pornography and they can be prosecuted.
It’s up to parents and caregivers to understand how the crime occurs and openly discuss online safety with kids.
Need Help? If young people are being exploited, they are the victim of a crime and should report it to the FBI. Learn more about their Victim Services Division and know your rights if you are the victim of sextortion and your images have been posted online. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.
How can you talk to your kids about sextortion? The FBI offers FAQ sheets on what kids and caregivers need to know, from what to do if you or a friend are a victim of the crime and how to report it, to conversation starters to begin what could be a difficult conversation for many parents.
First is a new version of “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” Ask your child if anyone he or she didn’t know ever tried to contact or talk to them online and what would they do? Do they know why someone would want to contact a child online? Remind them that it’s easy to pretend to be someone you’re not online and not every person is a good person. Make sure you block or ignore anything that comes in from someone you don’t know in real life.
Another conversation can begin by looking at a photo and asking if they know anyone who ever sent a picture that ended up being passed around the school? What could happen if they send a photo, especially if that image was embarrassing?
Thorn, a technology nonprofit, creates digital products and programs that combat child sexual abuse. They offer age-appropriate material to download and use when you talk to your kids about online dangers.
Finally, offer an ear and support. Mention that you’ve heard about kids sending photos and videos that were used against them and ask if they’ve heard about it? Tell them you know it’s scary but that if they ever encounter something that feels wrong or threatening, they can come to you for help.
