SACRAMENTO -- The FBI is advising families to be ever vigilant as sextortion cases have surfaced again in the Sacramento region in recent months.
Scott Springer, the Acting Supervisory Special agent for the Cyber Squad of the Sacramento FBI office, cautions teenagers to exercise discretion on “chat” websites (such as Tumblr or Chatroulette) that can make you feel anonymous and free to say and do anything without repercussion.
“We have seen young people engaging in sexually exploitive poses in these environments because they feel it is safe to experiment; they feel anonymity is security,” Springer said. Unfortunately, the “anonymous” predators in these environments are gathering information and images to blackmail boys and girls into providing more explicit photos and images.
“When someone tries to black mail you, it never ends well when you cooperate with them,” Springer said. “The best thing you can do if someone has threatened to expose the images they have obtained is to tell your parent or a trusted adult and then alert the FBI.”
According to Springer, these sextortion predators will never be satisfied. No matter how much you try to appease them, they will never leave you alone, until they are caught.
And sextortion is a secret that is a source of never-ending anxiety. “When kids report this abuse, they experience such a relief because it eliminates the power of the blackmailer,” Springer said.
Springer encourages teens and parents to report instances of anyone trying to coerce an individual into providing sexually explicit photos or encounters.
To report such abuse, go through IC3 or contact your local FBI Office.
According to Springer, the FBI will investigate discreetly.
“Once reported, we will verify the threat, and with consent of the victim we will review the communications and investigate,” Springer said. “Our investigations are discreet; we keep it quiet and we can offer victim support counseling.”
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