Law enforcement is warning parents about a rise in crimes involving the online exploitation of kids.
The Department of Justice says that they have seen a dramatic spike in cases involving what is known as “sextortion”—which is when a child is threatened online by a person demanding sexually explicit content.
The DOJ says these crimes specifically are targeting teenage boys between 14 and 17, although some victims have been as young as 10. The predator acts as a female account and then coerces the boy into sending an explicit photo or video.
The DOJ says to inform local police and the Western PA FBI office if you know of someone who has been victimized by the crime.
For more resources and information on child sextortion crimes, the FBI has a link on their website.
