Law enforcement agencies from the area are warning of the rise in sextortion.
Sextortion is described by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office as “a type of blackmail used to acquire sexual content from children, coerce them into sexual activity, or obtain money.”
Meanwhile, the Sheboygan County Human Trafficking Task Force adds, “Sextortion is a growing threat affecting teens across the country. Offenders often use fake accounts, manipulation, and threats to coerce victims into sending intimate images or money.”
With that in mind, both agencies have offered tips to children and parents in the event of a sextortion attempt.
First and foremost, do not pay any money to said individual and cut off all communication with them.
Victims are also advised to block the individual, but do not delete the messages.
Instead, document and save all communications with a suspected blackmailer as evidence.
You are then advised to report the individual through the platform’s safety feature and report the incident to your local police department or Sheriff’s Office.
To close, the Task Force noted, “Most importantly, know that help is available, and you are not alone.”
