Escalating Threat Of 'Sextortion' Prompts Warning From Bucks Co. Sheriff

DOYLESTOWN, PA —As students across Bucks County prepare to return to school, often equipped with new internet-enabled devices, the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning to parents, guardians, and students about the escalating threat of online sextortion.

The warning comes in response to concerning trends highlighted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding a significant increase in cases where children and teenagers are being coerced and threatened into sending explicit images online.

Sextortion often begins innocently on various online platforms, including social media, gaming sites, and messaging apps. Predators, who frequently misrepresent their age and intentions, may initially build trust or offer something of value before pressuring young people to share compromising images. Once these images are obtained, the perpetrators use them to blackmail and further exploit their victims, demanding more images or even financial payments under the threat of public exposure or other harm.

The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes the potential for devastating emotional and psychological consequences for victims of sextortion and urges open communication between caregivers and young people about online safety.

The Sheriff's Department said it is crucial for students to understand the permanence of digital content and the risks associated with online interactions with unknown individuals. Parents and guardians are encouraged to be proactive in discussing online safety practices, monitoring their children’s online activity, and creating an environment where young people feel comfortable reporting any concerning online interactions.

“The safety and well-being of our young people are our top priority,” said Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran. “As our students head back to school and spend more time online, it is imperative that we, as a community, are vigilant and informed about the dangers lurking in the digital world. Sextortion is a heinous crime that can have lasting impacts on its victims. We urge parents to have open and honest conversations with their children about online safety and to reassure them that they can always come to you for help without fear of reprisal. If your child is being targeted, please know that you are not alone, and resources are available.”

The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office echoes the FBI’s message that young people being exploited online are victims of a crime and should seek help immediately.

If you or someone you know is a victim of online sextortion, take the following steps:

• Do not delete any messages or images. This information can be crucial for law enforcement investigations.
• Immediately report the incident to a trusted adult, such as a parent, guardian, teacher, counselor, or another responsible adult.
• Report the incident to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.
• Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for support and resources at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or report online at cybertipline.org.

Earlier this year, Sheriff Harran convened a special field hearing dedicated to protecting students online. The event brought together state legislators, law enforcement, and victim assistance experts to address the need for enhanced prevention measures and potential legislative action.

"Looking through my NOVA lens, I can attest our continuously evolving digital world is placing children and adolescents at risk and victimization to a variety of negative and potentially dangerous exposures that are often of a sexual nature," said Mary Worthington, M.Ed., the Director of Prevention and Training with the Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) in her testimony at that hearing. "Reports show that 20 percent of teenage internet users say they have been the target of unwanted sexual solicitation, and according to Thorn’s 2022 report, 1 in 3 minors reported engaging in some form of online sexual interaction."

She continued, “We have seen firsthand technology’s role in facilitating sexual violence and its impact on victims and their families, from online grooming and sextortion to the alarming increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse images. The internet is an ever-changing landscape and presents significant risks; we must prioritize educating our youth about these risks and harms. We strongly advocate for legislation that requires continuing online safety education programs."