Financial sextortion has exploded into a national epidemic. Predators—often organized crime networks—target teens through social media, with devastating consequences.
How Sextortion Works
Predators follow a predictable pattern. Understanding it is the first step to prevention.
Contact
Predator creates fake profile, often posing as attractive peer or romantic interest
Grooming
Builds trust through flattery, shared interests, romantic attention
Request
Requests intimate images, often by sending fake images first
Extortion
Demands payment or more images, threatens to share with family/school
Escalation
Demands increase. Victims feel trapped. Some attempt suicide within hours.
A Crisis by the Data
Who's Being Targeted
While anyone can be a victim, certain groups face elevated risk
Where It's Happening
Internal documents and lawsuits reveal platforms knew about sextortion on their services—and failed to stop it.
"Snap has misled users into believing that photos and videos sent on their platform will disappear, but predators can permanently capture this content and they have created a virtual yearbook of child sexual images."— New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez
Warning Signs Your Child May Be a Victim
Sextortion victims often hide their situation due to shame. Watch for these signs.
If Your Child Is Being Sextorted
Don't pay. Paying doesn't stop the demands—it often escalates them. Here's what to do instead.
Report to FBI
The FBI's IC3 handles sextortion cases and can coordinate with international law enforcement
NCMEC CyberTipline
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children handles reports of child exploitation
Crisis Text Line
Free 24/7 support via text for anyone in crisis
Take It Down
NCMEC tool to help remove intimate images from platforms
What To Say to Your Child
"This is not your fault." Victims need to hear this first. Predators are sophisticated criminals—your child was targeted, manipulated, and exploited. Focus on safety and support, not blame.