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Understanding Sextortion

In January of 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning about the global financial sextortion crisis.

Sextortion is a form of blackmail that involves threatening to distribute private, sensitive, or compromising images or videos of an individual unless they provide more images, money, sexual favors, or other forms of compensation. This threat is on the rise, targeting children and using the internet to gain access inside homes.

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Did You Know?

In 2023 alone...

Did You Know?

NCMEC received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion.

(NCMEC, 2023)

Did You Know?

38% of minors...

Did You Know?

38% of minors blame the victim whose nudes were leaked.

(Thorn, 2023)

Did You Know?

Between 2021 and 2023...

Did You Know?

Between 2021 and 2023, the number of online enticement reports increased by 323%.

(NCMEC, 2023)

A woman and her teenage kids all wear blue

31%

of 13-17 year olds agree it's normal for kids their age to share nudes with others
(Thorn)

Download OUR Rescue’s FREE guide to understanding sextortion

Sextortion is a growing problem for young people today. At OUR Rescue, we want you to be empowered to keep predators out of your homes via the internet. This free guide helps individuals understand sextortion and how to address the topic with children and teens.

The guide will help you understand:

Types of sextortion
Who is behind sextortion threats
How to help children and adolescents avoid sextortion
What to do if your child or teen is a victim of online sextortion

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Understanding Sextortion:

How to Keep Kids Safe

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“The biggest aspect of this campaign is to educate children, parents, teachers, and other community leaders… on how to avoid falling prey to these criminal organizations.” - Derek Benner Former founder of DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking and Managing Director, Federal Law Enforcement and Commercial at Thomason Reuters

13,000

reports of online financial sextortion of minors
(FBI)

Why it matters

The FBI reports that “there have been an alarming number of suicides identified in male victims of financially motivated sextortion schemes.”

In fact, from October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, involving at least 12,600 victims—primarily boys—and leading to at least 20 suicides. (FBI, 2024)

Sextortion is everywhere, but you can help stop it from anywhere

You can help us continue to educate communities and offer resources on important issues like sextortion. Join forces with individuals across the nation who are standing up to safeguard our children. Donate now to help law enforcement fight against sextortion and protect kids today.

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