Parents, learn about this very real problem facing teens today.

How the Scam Works


Initial Contact
• Messages appear to come from teenage girls
• Predators establish false trust before blackmailing
• Example opening: “Hey, I found your page through suggested friends. Your pics are really cute haha.”
• Conversation quickly steers toward sexual topics or unsolicited nudes are sent


Escalation to Blackmail
• Predators isolate teens by threatening to send nude photos to contacts/friends on social media
• Demand money payment
• Accuse teens of being criminals and threaten sex offender list placement
• Send 200+ messages in 19 hours to create urgency and prevent victims from seeking help
• Predators often work in groups of 3-4 foreign cybercriminals who simultaneously:
• Contact the victim
• Handle money transfers
• Research family members, contacts, and school information


Psychological Manipulation
• Create fear and humiliation
• Discourage victims from telling trusted adults
• Make false threats (jail time, parental rejection, loss of future opportunities)
• Respond with cruelty when victims express suicidal ideation

Why Teens Are Vulnerable


Developmental Vulnerabilities
• Impulsivity and desire to be liked/funny
• Fear of future trauma leads to immediate action
• Inability to see beyond immediate crisis
• Executive function still developing
Time Factor
• Critical window: Death often occurs within 24 hours of threats (often much shorter)
• Predators deliberately prevent time for:
• Thinking clearly
• Taking breaks from messages
• Reaching out for help
• Parental detection of behavioral changes

Action Steps:

Prevention and Response Strategies


Early Conversations
• Discuss sextortion and internet safety early on
• Builds trust and confidence over time
• Outdated advice (avoid social media, don’t engage with strangers) is no longer practical given scale of problem


“Stop, Drop and Roll” Plan
• Develop a predetermined safety plan for teens
• Helps them act without having to think in crisis moments
•

Suggested by Melissa Stroebel (Thorn)
Amnesty Policy
• Create open doors for teens to seek help without judgment
• Allow teens to turn to parents regardless of what happened
• Removes shame barrier to disclosure
•

Suggested by Dr. Katie Hurley (The Jed Foundation)
Reframing the Narrative
• Emphasize that predator is to blame, not the victim
• Even if teen regrets sending image, predator committed the crime
• Evolve discussion of nude imagery with technology threats
• Avoid shaming teen boys who shared imagery


Community Approach
• Parents and communities should share information openly
• Conversations not limited to parents — teens often confide in other trusted adults
• Requires “attacking this from all sides”