The FBI says sextortion is among the fastest-growing U.S. crimes, with teens increasingly targeted. Parents are urged to stay informed.

Chicago

The FBI has identified sextortion as one of the fastest growing crimes, particularly affecting boys and teens between the ages of 7 and 17. Sextortion involves threats to share private or sexual images unless victims send more images or money. In a recent period, nearly 55,000 cases were reported to the FBI, with losses exceeding $33 million. However, officials believe the crime is under-reported due to victims' fear and embarrassment.

Financial institutions are increasingly able to spot suspicious transactions, such as multiple small payments to unknown adults or unusual activity in peer-to-peer payment apps. Experts recommend parents monitor their children's accounts and maintain open conversations about online interactions. The FBI also notes that older adults are being targeted through romance scams. Resources and further information are available on the FBI's website.

FBI warns of teen sextortion surge, urges parent awareness

Now at the bottom of the hour, so many of you have questions after our special report on sextortion two weeks ago. So we went back to the experts for answers. This time we're following the money. And how banks and credit unions are now catching what parents and teens might miss and stepping in before the scammers strike again. If you think your child or your teen would never do this, you're probably wrong. The FBI calls this one of the fastest growing crimes. It's mostly targeting young boys and teens generally in the 17 to 14 age range. So as young as 7. Sextortion happens when someone threatens to share private or sexual images unless you send more or pay up. Nearly 55,000 people reported it to the FBI in 2024. Losses top 33 million dollars. Sextortion is under-reported even with the amount of cases that we have for a variety of reasons people are scared. But any small piece of information that an individual has relating to one of these pass it to us. Those small details can open an investigation and financial institutions are learning to spot those same signs in your teen's accounts. Taylor Luttrell is a former banker and now compliance director at Abrigo where she helps banks and credit unions spot fraud in real time. Banks will not have access directly to the P2P apps, but they can see the transactions especially Zelle going through the traditional banks and credit unions. P2P means peer-to-peer payment apps like Cash App or Venmo. For parents that means money can move fast and sometimes without you knowing unless your teen uses an account you can monitor. They should look for the smaller amounts in volume going to an adult possibly out-of-state. New recipients added to their accounts. Other things that they would look at are late night transactions. Another clue banks use the memo line. Federal rules now require one-on-many payments even small transfers of 10, 20 or 50 dollars and they see exactly what senders type. Sometimes there is blatant is don't kill me. I don't want to die. Please delete video but then the scammers can also coerce them into saying things that make more sense like gifts or for landscaping. Terry recommends opening a teen account. You can monitor not a payment app you can't and use the same checklist Rego teaches finance companies. She says even if you miss a red flag, there's reassurance your bank can help spot trouble before it escalates. We have an epidemic of teen suicides attributed to sextortion and that's that's horrible. If we catch it up front and we talk to them about this is not your fault. Just have a conversation. What did you do today? Who are your new friends? Did you meet anybody new today? Something simple as that. Kid might say well, I met a I met a friend on the internet. Oh, who's that? What's his name? I don't really know. I don't really know who they are. Some of this some of these things is how this is how it gets started. Yeah, banks may catch the warning signs, but you are the first offense or if it happens stop contact. Save every message and report it and it's not just teens. These scams are hitting people over the age of 65 as well through romance scams. You can find resources and more information at FBI gov slash sextortion.

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