Press Release
☷Financially Motivated Sextortion Cases on the Rise FBI Charlotte Warns
Federal Bureau of Investigation ( By Press Release office)
Jan 20,2024
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If you come across financially motivated sextortion , report it to tips . fbi . gov . The FBI Charlotte Field Office has noticed a rise in these types of crimes and the tactics being used . Financially motivated sextortion cases are on the rise across the country . In North Carolina , the FBI Charlotte saw a 20% increase in reports from 2022 to 2023 . There are likely more victims out there , as many cases go unreported . Basically , financially motivated sextortion occurs when criminals make fake social media accounts and pressure victims into sending explicit photos or videos . Then , they threaten to share these images with the victim ' s loved ones if they don ' t pay up . Typically , the predators pretend to be young girls and target teenage boys , but we ' ve seen cases involving teenage girls and adults too . Lately , some of these criminals have been using artificial intelligence to manipulate photos from a victim ' s social media and share them on various platforms . Paying the criminals won ' t make it stop; they ' ll just keep asking for more money . In a recent FBI announcement about financially motivated sextortion , they advise victims to cut off contact and report the interactions to tips . fbi . gov . If you or someone you know has fallen victim to financially motivated sextortion , remember it ' s not your fault and you ' re not alone . Reach out to local law enforcement or the FBI at tips . fbi . gov or the Internet Crime Complaint Center ( IC3 ) at ic3 . gov . Before deleting anything from your device , let law enforcement review it . If explicit images were shared online , you can try using the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ' s "Take It Down" tool or "Is Your Content Out There" for potential removal . The FBI suggests taking precautions on social media and gaming platforms , such as being wary of connecting with strangers and not trusting videos or photos as proof of someone ' s identity . If someone you connect with asks you to switch to a different platform , be suspicious . Teach children to report any suspicious behavior to a trusted adult . For more information on sextortion , visit fbi . gov/financialsextortion . Financially motivated sextortion has become a serious issue , with adults pressuring young people into sending explicit images online . The FBI is providing resources to help caregivers and young individuals understand this crime , protect themselves , and discuss this growing threat .
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