FBI warns of sextortion of minors in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – Federal Bureau of Investigation in campaign to warn schools and parents about latest crime targeting children; this is a sextor.

The crime targets minors, boys between the ages of 14 and 17, who are online through social media, apps or games.

These overseas criminals force minors to make sexual photos or videos of themselves or other children and extort money from them.

A Bangladeshi national recently targeted minors across the US and nearly a dozen minors in Wyoming.

The FBI and US Attorney’s Office want parents to monitor their children’s social media and online gaming platforms and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

They also recommend having a common charging point, talking to your kids about what to watch out for, and knowing your child’s passwords to check out their chats and friend groups.

“If a child encounters this, or the parents are informed, or the adults are informed, talk to the children. Do not delete messages, delete any shared content, or contact law enforcement. And when we are contacted, we will do everything we can to help the children and then we will go after the perpetrator,” said Leonard Carollo, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Denver.

Since 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has received 260,000 reports of child abuse online.

Between 2019 and 2021, the number of extortions doubled, and the extortion of boys increased by 80 percent in 2022.

For more information and resources, click the link below.

Safe online surfing.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

End violence against children.

Net Smartz.

FBI.

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