Sextortion: What Families Need To Know: School District Issues Alert

Press release from the Berkeley Unified School District:

BERKELEY, CA —

Dear Berkeley Unified Community,

We recently received some information, which we think is important for all parents and caregivers to be aware of so that we may keep our students safe. Please accept this message as an informational tool to help us all proactively navigate online safety.

At the end of last year, the FBI released a national public safety alert informing communities such as ours that there is an increase in incidents of children and teens being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money—a crime known as financial sextortion.

The perpetrators of these crimes target our children for their vulnerability and innocence. They simply access our children through any social media application, dating or gaming sites. What may begin as a simple compliment from a stranger can develop into a request for a picture in exchange for a payment via cash application, online gaming credits or gift cards. Unfortunately, as soon as the perpetrators have any compromising images, they are able to use the threat of exposure or harm to solicit additional images or payment.

Our children will often be too afraid to seek help or tell a trusted adult. This is driven by fear of the perpetrator, fear of getting in trouble with their parents/caregivers or even law enforcement and overall feelings of shame and embarrassment.

What can we do to protect our children?

Be informed and inform others. Maintain open communication with your child about online safety. Help them understand that strangers will not send them money without wanting something (big!) in return. Help them understand that no image, video or Snap is ever truly private and it always has the potential of becoming public and everlasting. Most importantly, let your child know that they can always come to you, a trusted family member, or school employee for help.

We invite you to review the following resources for more information:

FBI Overview on Sextortion

FBI Kids What Teens Need to Know

FBI What Caregivers Need to Know

NetSmartz Online Safety