PITTSBURGH — Sexual extortion is a growing problem. Predators are targeting children through a game or an app. These criminals pretend to be a friend or classmate and convince the victim to send them a private or embarrassing picture. The predator then uses that photo as leverage to demand more.
The FBI said cases of “sextortion” have doubled in recent years in our area. Channel 11 talked to FBI Supervisory Special Agent Timothy Wolford, who said children as young as 8 have been targeted.
“These kids are the victims and they need to know that they can get the help. They need to talk to an adult,” Wolford said.
There are efforts underway to give prosecutors more tools to crack down on these predators. Pennsylvania has joined ten other states making sexual extortion a crime.
If you believe you’re a victim of sextortion or know someone else who is, call your local FBI office or toll-free at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
We talked to a woman who was a victim of this kind of abuse. You can hear how it impacted her life in the video above.
Resources
- FBI: What is Sextortion
- FBI: Stop Sextortion: Youth Face Risk Online
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Sextortion in the Pittsburgh area
- 14 cases since 2008
- All of the victims are minors
- Pittsburgh FBI Office currently has four open cases
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