Amanda Prestigiacomo

There's another subtype of sexual exploitation that primarily targets teen boys. Offenders will pose as attractive women online and they'll trick the minors into sending them explicit content. Then they'll threaten victims, tell them that they'll post the material publicly and send it to their friends and family if they don't send payment.

One report found that 90% of all financially motivated sexual extortion victims were males between the ages of 14 and 17. These schemes have been linked to a string of suicides by young boys.

One report found that 90% of all financially motivated sexual extortion victims were males between the ages of 14 and 17. These schemes have been linked to a string of suicides by young boys.

A memo from the FBI's Sacramento field office said these extortion offenders are often foreigners and they primarily hail from West African countries like Nigeria and Ivory Coast or Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines. I spoke to Tammy Lee, the CEO of nonprofit Our Rescue, and she told me that they're seeing a similar pattern.

A memo from the FBI's Sacramento field office said these extortion offenders are often foreigners and they primarily hail from West African countries like Nigeria and Ivory Coast or Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines. I spoke to Tammy Lee, the CEO of nonprofit Our Rescue, and she told me that they're seeing a similar pattern.

How common is this? Well, from October of 2021 to March of 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security investigations received more than 13,000 reports of this activity. There were about 12,600 victims who were mostly boys, and tragically, at least 20 suicides have been connected to this. But those numbers are likely even higher.

How common is this? Well, from October of 2021 to March of 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security investigations received more than 13,000 reports of this activity. There were about 12,600 victims who were mostly boys, and tragically, at least 20 suicides have been connected to this. But those numbers are likely even higher.

A more recent report from USA Today found that sextortion cases have been tied to at least 30 suicides of teen boys since 2021. And this trend is growing. In just a six-month period in 2023, for example, the FBI saw a 20% increase in reports of financially motivated sextortion.

A more recent report from USA Today found that sextortion cases have been tied to at least 30 suicides of teen boys since 2021. And this trend is growing. In just a six-month period in 2023, for example, the FBI saw a 20% increase in reports of financially motivated sextortion.

Cyber Tipline, which is an organization run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they received nearly 190,000 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts. That number has quadrupled since 2021, when the Tipline received about 44,000 reports. Now, which social media platforms should parents be most concerned about?

Cyber Tipline, which is an organization run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they received nearly 190,000 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts. That number has quadrupled since 2021, when the Tipline received about 44,000 reports. Now, which social media platforms should parents be most concerned about?

Yeah, Instagram and Snapchat are the two most used apps for these types of crimes. Messages on both of these apps can have messages that disappear. That might lead victims to put their guard down before they send over these explicit images that are later used against them.

Yeah, Instagram and Snapchat are the two most used apps for these types of crimes. Messages on both of these apps can have messages that disappear. That might lead victims to put their guard down before they send over these explicit images that are later used against them.

We spoke to South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, whose family, unfortunately, has firsthand experience with such crimes. Guffey's 17-year-old son, Gavin, took his own life after a Nigerian scammer threatened him on Instagram. Guffey has since become a fierce advocate in this space.

We spoke to South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, whose family, unfortunately, has firsthand experience with such crimes. Guffey's 17-year-old son, Gavin, took his own life after a Nigerian scammer threatened him on Instagram. Guffey has since become a fierce advocate in this space.

I asked Guffey if he had any advice for teens who might find themselves caught up in such a scheme.

I asked Guffey if he had any advice for teens who might find themselves caught up in such a scheme.

One final note here to listeners, if you or someone you know thinks they're a victim of sextortion, please call law enforcement. You can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

One final note here to listeners, if you or someone you know thinks they're a victim of sextortion, please call law enforcement. You can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

The books describe the former president as increasingly confused and fatigued during his final year in office as White House staffers continue to conceal that decline. One of the more startling claims says that Biden thought of himself more as the president of NATO than the United States.