So far, there have been almost a dozen suicides across the United States from victims of these scams, and the United States can do little to stop them.
The latest form of sextortion targets children, often ages 11-17, playing video games. The scammer pretends to be a beautiful girl and asks the boy for a sexual picture. Many agree to send, not knowing it’s a scammer on the other end of the message.
February 13, 2023
After that, the victim is told that the pictures will be released if they don’t pay up. Children are encouraged to do whatever is necessary to send them money. If they don’t pay, the threats increase. Sometimes the pictures are released. Other times, the scammer will threaten their family, friends, or loved ones. Some have gone as far as to threaten to kill their families if they don’t send them money.
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Then, some scammers release pictures or videos even after they receive money. This causes significant distress, and there’s little the government can do to stop it.
February 13, 2023
Instead, they recommend that parents educate their children about this situation. According to Fox News, “‘These crimes are being originated overseas, so it’s tough to hold people accountable,’ Evans said, according to KARE 11. ‘The way we will get out of this problem is through education of our young people.’”
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It’s advised that parents sit down with their children and explain the scam to them and what to do if they run into a person like this. The account should be blocked and reported on the video game or social media platform where it happens. Further, parents should monitor children’s activity in video games and be aware of who they’re playing with.
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