Smart About Money: Beware of Sexting Scams

A parent recently approached me and asked if I would consider writing a column to alert parents to a particularly cruel scam that directly targets teenagers, often boys.

Nick Maffeo

Many parents may not be aware of this scam. I was not. When I started looking into it, I learned that it’s become so widespread and so dangerous that the state of New Mexico filed a lawsuit in September against Snapchat for providing a “haven in which predators solicit explicit photos and then use them to blackmail the sender,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

In New Mexico’s suit against Snapchat, an internal document from Snapchat admits that “sexting has become regular behavior” for young people who believe that “sexting on the app was safe.”

It’s not safe. And it’s not only Snapchat. Parents need to know about this serious new online threat that’s out there.

The FBI issued a warning earlier this year about this “growing threat preying upon our nation’s teens.” Specifically, according to the FBI, it’s about “victims nationwide being manipulated to create sexually explicit material for extortionists.”

Here’s how it often happens: A teen or young adult has been chatting with someone online. They think it’s another teen, someone safe. But actually it’s a scammer posing as a teen. The scammer urges the victim to “exchange” identifiable explicit photos. According to the FBI, these blackmailers and extortionists are usually located outside of the U.S. They are primarily motivated by financial gain.

Once the photos have been received by the blackmailer, they start demanding money or they say they’ll release the “compromising material.” The scammers threaten public embarrassment, or worse. Sometimes much more — jail, a ruined life.

That’s usually when the victim starts to panic, and it’s often the first time parents learn that there is a problem. Sometimes a very significant problem. According to the FBI, “These crimes can lead victims to self-harm and have led to suicide.”

The FBI said, “From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors — primarily boys — which led to at least 20 suicides.”

What can parents do? Online scams are more serious than ever for everyone. A smart phone can be very useful and also very dangerous for kids. Talk to your kids about the threats and let them know that you’re there for them no matter what.

In ConnectSafely.org’s Parent’s Guide to Teen Sextortion Scams, former Internet Crimes Against Children Commander Joe Laramie says, “Do not wait until your child comes to you to bring this topic up. Chances are they won’t, and it’s your opportunity to have a real impact protecting their online world by having that conversation.”

It’s more than just their online world. You will be protecting your kids overall. ConnectSafely.org’s excellent, helpful, on-point Parent’s Guide to Teen Sextortion Scams is available free at connectsafely.org/sextortion. It should be required reading for all parents and you may want to approach your child’s school administrators about starting to make young people aware of this new danger.

At a minimum, ConnectSafely.org says you should urge your children to “never share intimate photos of themselves or anyone else.” That’s 100 percent true.

If you learn that your child is being blackmailed, go directly to the local police. They are your best resource for how to proceed in the specific situation you may be dealing with. The Canton Anti-Scam Task Force may also be able to be of assistance — they can be reached at 781-828-1323. There are also legal advisers and victim support groups that deal specifically with this kind of scam.

Nick Maffeo is the President & CEO of Canton Co-operative Bank in Canton. Have a question? Email to submissions@thecantoncitizen.com.

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Posted by Nick Maffeo on Nov 1 2024. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion, Smart About Money. Both comments and pings are currently closed.