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sextortion
Ever take a 'sensitive' photo of yourself? You could be at risk of sextortion
Faceless criminals are using young peoples’ personal images to extort money from them and the FBI want it to stop.
3.00pm, 12 Jul 2015
23.5k
11
FBI
FBI
SEXTORTION IS A serious crime and something the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wants to stop.
What is sextortion?
Sextortion is a crime whereby someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you don’t provide them images of a sexual nature, sexual favours or money.
You might be under the illusion that this is just something that happens in the US. This crime is happening around the world, including Ireland.
In June, the PSNI in Northern Ireland issued a warning about online safety after a young Tyrone teenager apparently took his own life after he was told to post images online.
Sextortion can have devastating effects on young people and it is easy to become a victim, warns the FBI.
The perpetrators often pretend to be people they are not and can lurk in chat rooms and record young people who post or live-stream sexual explicit images and videos of themselves.
Hack into your personal files
If you think you would not be fooled by that, there are other ways.
The can also hack into your electronic devices with malware to gain access to your files and control you web camera and microphone without you knowing it.
If you are a victim of sextortion the important thing to remember is you are not alone.
The FBI want the remaining young girls to know that “the dark period in their lives is over. They don’t need to be looking over their shoulders anymore”.
Chansler plead guilty to multiple counts of child pornography production last year. He was sentenced to 105 years in prison.
How can you stay safe online?
Be wary of who you talking to online. Those using sextortion is most likely an adult posing as a teenager.
Do not be afraid to talk to an adult
NEVER send compromising images of yourself to anyone no matter who they are or who you might think they are
Do not open attachments from strangers
Turn off electronic devices when you are not using them
If you have a victim of this crime please contact your local garda station or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111.
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