FBI warns of sextortion schemes in children through social media

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - The FBI Phoenix Field Office issued a warning to parents regarding sextortion in children online.

Reports to the FBI say more adults are posing as young girls to lure boys on social media and extort them for money after receiving sexual content.

Sextortion is a crime that carries severe penalties such as life sentences.

"Disrupting these criminals is difficult, but the best ways to do just that are through awareness, education, and having important discussions with your children about their online safety," says Sean Kaul of the FBI’s Phoenix field office. "We completely understand that victims may feel embarrassed and afraid to come forward to report these incidents, but we really encourage victims to notify us so that these predators are held to account for their actions, if possible and, most importantly, prevented from harming another child.”

The FBI gives the following tips to help parents and their children online:

1 . Be careful of what's shared online, such as personal information, since certain content can stay online forever

2. A stranger can pretend to be someone else so photos and videos aren't always proof of who they claim to be

3. Contact your local FBI field office or local police department if you feel like you're in danger

4. Don't delete evidence and don't be afraid to tell law enforcement about the details, as it could all be necessary in finding the offender