Amanda Prestigiacomo

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.

Recovery efforts continue at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic. A roof collapse during a concert has killed at least 221 people, with more than 150 others injured. The incident occurred early Tuesday during a performance by merengue singer Ruby Perez, who was among the dead. At least two former Major League Baseball players were also killed, Octavio Dottel and Tony Blanco.

Recovery efforts continue at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic. A roof collapse during a concert has killed at least 221 people, with more than 150 others injured. The incident occurred early Tuesday during a performance by merengue singer Ruby Perez, who was among the dead. At least two former Major League Baseball players were also killed, Octavio Dottel and Tony Blanco.

Rescue teams continued search efforts as officials confirmed several prominent victims, including a provincial governor and a U.S. citizen. Authorities are investigating the cause, noting the club had substantial fire damage back in 2023.

Rescue teams continued search efforts as officials confirmed several prominent victims, including a provincial governor and a U.S. citizen. Authorities are investigating the cause, noting the club had substantial fire damage back in 2023.

Yeah, there are a couple different types of online sexual exploitation that the feds are warning about. It's called sextortion or sexual extortion when a predator, usually an adult, either coerces or coaxes a minor into sending sexually explicit images or video footage and then extorts them over it.

Yeah, there are a couple different types of online sexual exploitation that the feds are warning about. It's called sextortion or sexual extortion when a predator, usually an adult, either coerces or coaxes a minor into sending sexually explicit images or video footage and then extorts them over it.

Predators will threaten to release that material unless the minor either produces additional explicit content or gives them cash. In some cases, the offenders are motivated by sexual gratification, but other times they're primarily after money. The FBI posted a video just last week about the sharp rise in sextortion, specifically citing a violent online network known as 764.

Predators will threaten to release that material unless the minor either produces additional explicit content or gives them cash. In some cases, the offenders are motivated by sexual gratification, but other times they're primarily after money. The FBI posted a video just last week about the sharp rise in sextortion, specifically citing a violent online network known as 764.

Members in the US and abroad are coercing minors and other vulnerable people to commit disturbing sex-related crimes or self-harm. The special agent in charge of the FBI St. Louis field office, Ashley Johnson, discussed 764 on Fox 2 earlier this month.

Members in the US and abroad are coercing minors and other vulnerable people to commit disturbing sex-related crimes or self-harm. The special agent in charge of the FBI St. Louis field office, Ashley Johnson, discussed 764 on Fox 2 earlier this month.

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.

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.