Information provided by Agent Steve Merrill and Public Affairs Specialist Sarah Rice. Thank you for all that you do!

What can students do to protect themselves?
Be selective about what you share online. If social media accounts are open to everyone, a blackmailer may have access to private information.​
Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online and block or ignore messages from strangers.​
Be aware people can pretend to be anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof a person is who they claim to be. ​
Talk about sextortion, how to prevent it, and what to do if it happens.​
Juveniles are often too ashamed, embarrassed, or scared to report sextortion, something blackmailers depend on to ensure compliance. Many sextortion victims have engaged in self-harming ideation or actions, and some have taken their lives because of this victimization. ​
Links:
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion

Device security for teens:
Use strong passwords (involving upper- and lower-case letters; numbers and symbols); update software as often as possible; and only share accounts or passwords with their parents or other trusted caregiver.
Cover their webcam and turn off their computer when not in use.
Never open email attachments unless they are certain of the sender.
Use firewall and anti-malware software and consider encrypting their hard drives.
Be suspicious and alert: technology alone will not protect them.
Juveniles are often too ashamed, embarrassed, or scared to report sextortion, something blackmailers depend on to ensure compliance. Many sextortion victims have engaged in self-harming ideation or actions, and some have taken their lives because of this victimization. ​
If sextortion is happening to you or someone you know, encourage victims to come forward and emphasize:​
You are not alone. This happens to many kids and teens.
You are not at fault and have done nothing wrong.​
Reach out to someone you trust.​
Stop responding to messages, take screenshots, report and block the user.​
Do not send more images, pay any money, or respond to demands.​
Victims can get help to remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos by visiting https://takeitdown.ncmec.org.

Tips for parents/teachers
These suspicious activities/indicators include, but are not limited to, any individual, group, or activity. These indicators alone do not necessarily indicate that a child or teenager has been a victim of sextortion; however, the totality of behavior and other relevant circumstances should be evaluated when considering notification to law enforcement. ​
Withdrawal from family/friends.​
Drop in grades.​
Withdrawal from typical activities.​
Abnormal behaviors, such as fear, unexplained anger, or being secretive.​
Increased time spent on electronic devices.​
Expressions of self-harm.​
Unexplained weight loss (likely due to stress).​
New communication apps/mobile payment apps being utilized.​
Increased nightmares, anxiety, depression, or sexual knowledge.​
Sudden, unexplained need for cash.
Parents can implement rules against having devices in bedrooms or shutting off WiFi. It is also important for parents and teachers to know that they can come and ask for help. Predators gain their power from creating fear.

If a student shares this information with a trusted adult: comfort them, help them understand that they have been the victim of a crime, and help them to report it to law enforcement.

Reporting options
Talking about sextortion can feel impossible, but there are people who can help. You are not the one in trouble.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sextortion, please contact one of the following:
Call or submit a tip to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov
call ​1-800-CALL-FBI
Call or submit a tip to NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST
Local FBI field office: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/honolulu