Middletown police are issuing a warning to parents as a dangerous scam targets children across the country.
“Sextortion is a real and dangerous scam that is affecting students across the country,” Middletown police said on social media.
“In these schemes, predators manipulate, threaten, and extort young people for explicit images, often demanding money or gift cards in exchange for not sharing these images with friends, family, colleges etc.”
The FBI recently published an article on identifying these scams and protecting children while they are online. According to the FBI, these types of scams have contributed to suicide deaths.
Middletown police emphasize the importance of speaking with children about potential scams.
“Let them know that if they become a victim, they should contact a parent, guardian, trusted adult, or the police,” Middletown police wrote in a post.
The FBI reports an increase in sextortion cases involving children and teenagers.
Sextortion can occur anywhere people gather and communicate, according to the FBI. According to the FBI, the person may already claim to have a revealing photo of the child and threaten to share it unless they send more pictures.
According to the FBI, victims of sextortion frequently believe they are speaking with someone their own age who is looking for a relationship or who can provide something of value.
According to the FBI, once the criminals have videos or pictures, they threaten to publish the content or use violence against the victim in order to entice them to send more pictures, money, or gift cards. According to the FBI, the criminal will often release the photos regardless.
“The shame, fear, and confusion children feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse,” according to the FBI’s article. “Caregivers and young people should understand how the crime occurs and openly discuss online safety.”
