Superintendent's Article
The Michigan State Police’s February eNewsletter includes important information about sextortion that I feel compelled to share with parents and community. Sadly, social media comes with many hazards, including sextortion, a disturbing trend that targets young individuals through the misuse of personal information and explicit content. I strongly encourage parents to be informed and follow the advice and safety tips detailed in the MSP eNewsletter printed below.
Attention Parents: Sextortion on the Rise in Michigan
While sextortion sounds like something that only occurs in the movies or large metropolitan areas, the MSP is warning parents of an increase in these cases across the state.
Sextortion is a form of online exploitation involving victims who are coerced or manipulated into providing sexually explicit images or video through threats, intimidation or emotional manipulation. After obtaining that compromising material, predators threaten to release it publicly unless their financial demands are met. Payment is often requested in gift cards, mobile payment services or other payment methods.
The MSP shares the following safety tips and reminders with parents:
- Supervise your child’s use of computer applications and cell phones with internet access.
- Parents should have open discussions with their children about the dangers of interacting with people they don’t know on the internet.
- Make sure your child knows they can talk to you or another trusted adult if they have concerns about an online contact or if they experience any suspicious interactions online.
- Be aware that once an image, video, or comment is posted online, it is there forever.
If you or your child experiences sextortion, take the following actions:
- Immediately contact law enforcement or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov to make a report.
- Consult with authorities before deciding whether to comply with the demands of a blackmailer. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail.
- Report any suspicious or fraudulent actions to the social media platform via the platform’s safety feature.
- Block the suspect, but do not delete your profile or messages.
- Reinforce that the victim or child is not to blame. It is the suspect blackmailer who is to blame.
For additional information, go to https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/michigan-sextortion-psa-012524.mp4/view to watch an informative video published by the FBI Detroit Office.
