Amanda Prestigiacomo

A memo from the FBI's Sacramento field office said that financially motivated sextortion offenders are often foreigners, and they primarily hail from West African countries like Nigeria and Ivory Coast or Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.

Lee told me that artificial intelligence is widening the net of sextortion victims.

Lee told me that artificial intelligence is widening the net of sextortion victims.

One report found that 90% of all financially motivated sextortion victims were males between the ages of 14 and 17. The FBI saw a 20% increase in reports in just one six-month period back in 2023. From October of 2021 to March 2023, The FBI and Homeland Security investigations received more than 13,000 reports of such activity online targeting minors.

One report found that 90% of all financially motivated sextortion victims were males between the ages of 14 and 17. The FBI saw a 20% increase in reports in just one six-month period back in 2023. From October of 2021 to March 2023, The FBI and Homeland Security investigations received more than 13,000 reports of such activity online targeting minors.

There were about 12,600 victims, primarily all boys, and at least 20 suicides. A more recent number, according to a USA Today report, found that sextortion cases have been tied to at least 30 suicides of teen boys since 2021. And that number is likely a low estimate since some families might not even be aware that their child was a victim of sextortion due to the online nature of the crime.

There were about 12,600 victims, primarily all boys, and at least 20 suicides. A more recent number, according to a USA Today report, found that sextortion cases have been tied to at least 30 suicides of teen boys since 2021. And that number is likely a low estimate since some families might not even be aware that their child was a victim of sextortion due to the online nature of the crime.

Additionally, the Cyber Tip Line, which is run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMAC, received nearly 200,000 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts, which includes extortion. That number has quadrupled since 2021, when the tip line received just under 50,000 reports.

Additionally, the Cyber Tip Line, which is run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMAC, received nearly 200,000 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts, which includes extortion. That number has quadrupled since 2021, when the tip line received just under 50,000 reports.

Instagram and Snapchat, according to Nick Mack, are the two most used apps for these crimes. Messages can disappear on both apps, which creates a false sense of privacy for kids using them. According to parents of numerous victims, minors will be messaged by an account they think is a female of a similar age who might tell them that they have mutual friends in common.

Instagram and Snapchat, according to Nick Mack, are the two most used apps for these crimes. Messages can disappear on both apps, which creates a false sense of privacy for kids using them. According to parents of numerous victims, minors will be messaged by an account they think is a female of a similar age who might tell them that they have mutual friends in common.

The conversation then turns sexual, and soon after the victim sends over explicit material, the blackmail begins. Guffey often speaks to young people about online safety, how to avoid these scams, and what to do if you ever find yourself in such a situation.

The conversation then turns sexual, and soon after the victim sends over explicit material, the blackmail begins. Guffey often speaks to young people about online safety, how to avoid these scams, and what to do if you ever find yourself in such a situation.

In his son's case, the scammers were asking for only a couple hundred dollars, he told me.

In his son's case, the scammers were asking for only a couple hundred dollars, he told me.

Guffey also has social media companies in his sights. He's currently suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram, over his son's death. And he told me that he filed the suit directly and he's not demanding money, but instead demanding change. He wants these companies to have some protections stripped over their lack of action concerning explicit content of minors.

Guffey also has social media companies in his sights. He's currently suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram, over his son's death. And he told me that he filed the suit directly and he's not demanding money, but instead demanding change. He wants these companies to have some protections stripped over their lack of action concerning explicit content of minors.

Currently, he's working with Senator Ted Cruz on the Take It Down Act. The bill would require social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to remove any content that features explicit images or videos of minors or child sexual abuse material known as CSAM or revenge porn within 48 hours of it being flagged.

Currently, he's working with Senator Ted Cruz on the Take It Down Act. The bill would require social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to remove any content that features explicit images or videos of minors or child sexual abuse material known as CSAM or revenge porn within 48 hours of it being flagged.

The Take It Down Act passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week and has been championed by First Lady Melania Trump. As for parents of potential victims, Guffey is preaching grace and understanding.