The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is reportedly concerned by the alarming rates of sextortion cases across the United States and other nations. It has been suggested that parents and caregivers should sensitize their wards about this issue.
FBI is Concerned About Elevating Sextortion Rates
The FBI has claimed that sextortion cases are increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S. As per reports, more than 3,000 children have been victimized so far.
Therefore, it has collaborated with organizations such as Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to release a public safety alert for the same.
These organizations have suggested that parents and caregivers educate their children about online as well as offline sextortion. It is worth noting that sextortion is a heinous crime wherein criminals ask for sexual favor or money on the pretext of revealing real sexual evidence pertaining to the victim.
Minors are highly prone to these criminal activities since they are naive. Due to the widespread internet penetration as well as social media proliferation online sextortion cases have surged substantially.
FBI Director’s Take on This Matter
As per reliable sources, the director of the FBI Christopher Wary has personally shown grave concerns about this matter. He was quoted saying that more than 7,000 complaints pertaining to the cases of sextortion have been registered in the past year.
He further stated that, apart from the U.S., minors from underdeveloped and developing nations like Nigeria are being victimized.
Wary also asserted that many people do not come forward and lodge complaints on such cases because of social stigma. He urged that parents and caregivers should be cautious about the welfare of their children and start sensitizing them on this issue before it is too late.
He has assured that the FBI is always here to support the victims and hence they should not step away from contacting the concerned bodies if they become a victim of this heinous crime.
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