skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, July 26, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics, the Obamas endorse Harris for President; A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections; Art breathes new life into pollution-ravaged MI community; 34 Years of the ADA.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Harris meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu and calls for a ceasefire. MI Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces backlash for a protest during Netanyahu's speech. And VA Sen. Mark Warner advocates for student debt relief.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

There's a gap between how rural and urban folks feel about the economy, Colorado's 'Rural is Rad' aims to connect outdoor businesses, more than a dozen of Maine's infrastructure sites face repeated flooding, and chocolate chip cookies rock August.

'Sextortion' cases on rise in UT and nationally

play audio
Play

Monday, January 22, 2024   

The FBI is warning the public about an increase in the crime known as "sextortion," when suspects target minors and threaten or coerce them into sending sexually explicit videos and images online.

Offenders then threaten to release the content unless the victim produces more.

Financially motivated sextortion follows a similar pattern, but ultimately offenders are looking for financial gain.

Special Agent Curtis Cox in the FBI's Salt Lake City office said they receive dozens of calls a month.

"These cases typically involve young male victims between the age of 13 to 17 - and we see some younger than that, actually - and so, we're really just trying to get the word out," said Cox. "Obviously, awareness is key here. We want kids to know what sorts of dangers they face online. We want them to know what resources are available to them."

Cox said in the six months from October 2022 to March 2023, the FBI saw a 20% increase in the reporting of financially motivated sextortion cases.

If you or someone you know believes they're a victim of this kind of crime, contact law enforcement immediately. You can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at 'tips.fbi.gov.'

Cox said as young people live their lives online, some fall victim to these scams - typically on Instagram or Snapchat.

He said the scammers, who pretend to be teenage girls, approach young men. The scammer will send a sexually explicit photo and solicit one in return - which is then used to demand money from the victim.

"With threats that if the money's not paid, they're going to send those pictures to social media contacts - their friends, their family, to others in the kid's orbit," said Cox. "And obviously, that fear of being exposed that way causes these kids to panic."

Cox said trying to make payments doesn't solve the problem - and can exacerbate it.

He adds the resulting anxiety can lead people who've been scammed to self-harm or thoughts of suicide. But he said there are resources to help.

And he urged parents to not judge or be angry at their teen, but to view them as a victim who needs help and support.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
According to the Tax Policy Center, for higher-income earners, sales taxes consume a lower share of their income than for other households. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As Nebraska state lawmakers convene for a special session on property tax reform called by Gov. Jim Pillen, groups are weighing in on the details …


play sound

Traveling around rural Minnesota can be difficult but in more than half the state, nonprofit transit systems are helping people get where they need …

Social Issues

play sound

Student loan forgiveness took center stage on Thursday at the American Federation of Teachers conference. The Biden administration has canceled more …


Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has introduced legislation to codify the Chevron Deference into law. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Recent Supreme Court rulings on air pollution are affecting Virginia and the nation. Climate advocates said the court overstepped its bounds in …

Health and Wellness

play sound

World Hepatitis Day is this Sunday, and for the Oregon Health Authority, it's an opportunity to promote its plan to eliminate hepatitis across the …

The Gender Shades project revealed facial recognition performed poorest for darker-skinned women, and performed best for lighter-skinned men. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Columbia County, New York, is implementing new facial recognition and privacy policies, following new upgrades to the county's surveillance cameras…

Health and Wellness

play sound

New York disability-rights advocates are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 …

Social Issues

play sound

As summer winds down and North Carolina students prepare to return to school, the focus shifts to the urgent need for better public education funding…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021