Sextortion Of Minors 'A Major Problem' In San Diego, FBI Warns

SAN DIEGO, CA — Sextortion of minors is a growing problem in the San Diego area, authorities warned the public this week. In fact, sextortion cases have doubled over the past year in the region, according to the FBI San Diego Field Office.

Sextortion is a form of child sex abuse that involves coercion of minors to create and send sexually explicit material. Offenders obtain sexually explicit photos or video from minors, and then threaten to release the material unless the victims produce more.

"Nationwide, and right here in San Diego, sextortion has become a major problem," said John Kim, special agent in charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. "Cases in our area have doubled over the past year and the overwhelming majority of the cases target minors."

Some offenders solely seek sexual gratification, while others extort payments, often in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, mobile payment services and wire transfers. For financially motivated sextortion, offenders are usually located outside the United States and often in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, according to the FBI.

From October 2022 to March 2023, the FBI documented at least a 20 percent increase in reporting of financially motivated sextortion incidents involving minor victims compared to the same time period the previous year.

Victims are typically boys between the ages of 14 to 17, but any child can become a victim, the FBI said.

The crimes can lead victims to self-harm and suicide, the FBI warned.

From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received more than 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors. The crimes involved at least 12,600 victims and led to at least 20 suicides, according to the FBI.

"The best form of prevention is education and continued awareness," Kim said. "Parents and caregivers should learn about what's happening so they can talk with their kids about online safety."

Report sextortion to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.