The FBI and our international law enforcement partners have issued a joint alert regarding a global extortion crisis. Financial sextortion is a crime in which minor boys are coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money. According to our agencies, the number of incidents in which minor boys around the world are forced to send explicit images online and extorted for money has increased dramatically.
The FBI received hundreds of reports of financial sextortion of juveniles, predominantly boys, in 2022, an exponential increase from previous years. Sadly, the FBI is also aware of over a dozen suicides following these events. Today, on Safer Internet Day, we are urging children and their guardians to educate themselves against cyberbullying and assist us in protecting others from becoming victims.
Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, stated, “Financial extortion affects far more than simply our country and our children; it is a worldwide scourge that deserves everyone’s attention.” “Along with our international partners, the FBI is preventing children from being victims of this heinous crime. Everyone has a responsibility to encourage and enable victims to come forward and demonstrate that there is life after images.”
Money extortion can occur anywhere, but it typically occurs on digital platforms where children are already spending time, such as social media, gaming, and video chat platforms. On these platforms, predators frequently masquerade as girls of a comparable age and use phony profiles to lure young boys into exchanging obscene photographs and videos. The predator then threatens to expose the incriminating materials if the victim does not provide payment; nevertheless, in many instances, the photographs are released regardless.
Although though financial extortion is done online, it can have severe offline consequences. After experiencing threats and aggression, victims may experience feelings of isolation, shame, and fear, which can lead to children engaging in self-harm. Global law enforcement wants victims to know they are not in danger, they are not alone, and there is life after photographs.
What to do if you are the victim of financial extortion:
Remember that the perpetrator is to blame, not you or your child.
Report the account of the predator using the platform’s safety tool.
Do not delete the predator’s profile or messages, as this information can assist law authorities in identifying and stopping them.
Before providing money or further photographs, get assistance from an adult or police enforcement you can trust. Cooperation rarely prevents extortion and harassment, but the police can.
Believe that there is life beyond visuals.
If young people are victims of exploitation, they should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or file a report online at tips.fbi.gov.
Michelle DeLaune, chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:
“We recognize that young victims of this crime may feel helpless, but we want them to know they are not alone. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has received over 10,000 cases of sextortion in the past year. Please discuss with your children what to do if they (or their friends) become internet targets. NCMEC provides free materials to help individuals navigate a frightening circumstance.”
Gord Sage, Chief Superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Sensitive and Specialty Investigation Services:
“The RCMP is glad to collaborate with foreign law enforcement partners to ensure internet safety for youth. These crimes are real, they have grave consequences, and young people must realize that the police are there to assist them. These criminals prey on children, which is unacceptable. The international police force is united against these crimes.”
Robert Jones, Chairman of the National Crime Agency’s Virtual Global Taskforce:
“International cooperation has never been more crucial in addressing the problem of child sexual abuse online.” The power of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) lies in its capacity to share knowledge and take swift, coordinated action against developing global trends, such as the escalating menace of financial extortion. As chairman, I am committed to maximizing every opportunity provided by the VGT to help us continue to combat the menace, protect children, and identify perpetrators.”
“Although we are committed to doing everything possible, the most essential reminder of Safer Internet Day is to continue having open talks about online safety within our communities and particularly with the youth in our lives. The Safer Internet Day activities and the CEOP Education website in the United Kingdom are just two examples of the array of preventative measures available globally to assist parents, educators, and young people.
Myron Demkiw, Chief of Police, Toronto Police Service:
The Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit of the Toronto Police Service is happy to join our Canadian and worldwide law enforcement colleagues in this vital preventative initiative. Our I.C.E. section works diligently to safeguard children and adolescents from Internet child exploitation, such as financial sextortion, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We all have a duty to play in protecting our children and young, and partnerships such as this will ensure that we effectively raise awareness and disseminate prevention information regarding these heinous crimes, not only locally but globally.”
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