Sextortion happens when a predator online misrepresents themself and manipulates someone into sending inappropriate videos or pictures.
PLAINFIELD, Ind. — The digital blackmail of children, also known as “sextortion,” has been an issue for more than a decade.
In fact, there has been a significant increase in reports of financial sextortion.
Tuesday, law enforcement and local advocates talked with Plainfield students and parent about what to look out for.
Sextortion happens when a predator online misrepresents themself and manipulates someone into sending inappropriate videos or pictures. Once they have the files, the predator demands money or threatens to make those images public.
“If you don’t think it’s happening in your communities, unfortunately, you’re wrong,” Avon Police Det. Joseph Davy said of sextortion.
Davy is not only an Avon police detective, he’s also with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. With the internet being at everyone’s fingertips, police said predators now have a number of ways to contact children, including through video games and online apps.
It can happen anywhere, including in Hendricks County.
“These online predators are good. They are criminals. They know how to lure kids into conversations and sometimes they don’t have the skills to get out safely,” Plainfield Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Laura Delvecchio said.
Delvecchio wants her students to always be extra cautious when choosing to engage with people on the internet.
“It’s not innocent when someone is asking you to start chatting with you don’t know. There’s a good chance that someone is trying to get in and do mischievous things,” she said.
Mischievous things that could lead children to send nude photos and videos before getting extorted for money. Plainfield Schools partnered with Susie’s Place, a child advocacy center, to educate and empower parents to become aware of these online predators and what to do if one goes after their child.
“The biggest thing is knowing how to handle it when the come to you and being an active listener and knowing this is a crime that can be solved but time is of the essence,” Delvecchio said.
Hendricks County law enforcement officers say they have investigated an overwhelming number of child exploitation and sextortion cases in the past year alone.
Parents like Jonathan Woodring said it’s crucial information to have.
“I think if we can be informed and approach it with the understanding of them being a victim, even if they are playing a part in it. We can offer some grace and get down to the root of the problem and find those people who are exploiting it,” Woodring said.
That’s why Davy suggests all parents and kids never pay these people. He says don’t delete anything and go straight to the police.
“Everyone in their community wants their children to feel safe. We want the message out there that the world isn’t crashing down on them. We can help them,” said Davy.
If you missed this opportunity to be a part of this conversation, Susie’s Place will be having another one next week on May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Danville Middle School.
