FBI Warns Teenage Boys about Sextortion Fraud

In September, the FBI alerted people about sextortion schemes being committed on LGBTQ+ dating apps. In an earlier column, I wrote about a variant of this scam, in which victims receive emails claiming that the crook has installed spyware on their computers and recorded them engaging in explicit behavior and visiting porn sites. The victim then demands payment to stop the images from being shared. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 18,000 sextortion complaints in 2021. It lost more than $13.6 Million.

These tips are provided by the FBI and BBB to help protect you or your child from a sextortion scheme:

• Make sure you are careful about what you post online, especially if it is personal information or pictures. A predator could gain access to your social media accounts and learn a lot about you or your family members.
• Do not be afraid to contact strangers online. You can block or ignore messages sent by strangers.
• People can make up anything and anyone online. Photos and videos are not evidenced that people are as they claim to be.
• If someone asks you to change platforms or to play on an app or game, be suspicious.
• Encourage your children and teens to report any suspicious behavior to a trusted adult.

Be calm before you take any action. Sextortion scams are based on victims’ emotions, which can make it difficult for them to make informed decisions.

Contact your local FBI field office if you suspect that you or someone you care about has been the victim of a crime. Do not delete any information until they have reviewed it.

Randy Hutchinson serves as the president of the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South. Call 800-222-8754 to reach the BBB