CLEVELAND – – The FBI is alerting about a frightening twist on a currently disturbing criminal offense targeting children that's increasing throughout the country.
" If you have a phone, if you have the web, you are a prospective victim," stated FBI Special Agent Preetham Rao,
Cleveland Division Crimes Against Children Coordinator.
In the past perpetrators would try and lie to convince youths to provide improper photos so they might extort money and/or present cards and/or sexual favors from them.
Now with artificial intelligence or AI and the ability to quickly produce "deep fakes," they can turn any innocent photo online into pornography.
" It's becoming increasingly more realistic," stated Preetham, "Instead of needing to get compromising images and videos, they can just go out to your Facebook profile, to Instagram and just grab a family picture or sporting occasion."
He states over the past 2 to 3 years sextortion has ended up being a "prevalent" and growing problem across the country and in NE Ohio.
There is no part of the nation, city, or town that's unsusceptible to it.
" They (wrongdoers) may say, hey I've already got a photo of you and if you don't send me a gift card or wire me cash, I'm going to share this with all of your followers or buddies which's how the extortion begins ratcheting it up from there," he said.
According to the FBI there are thousands of victims, often young males and boys who become scared helpless and often pressed to suicide.
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" In nineteen and a half hours they sent out over 200 texts," said Tamia Woods who's own 17-year-old boy James Woods ended up being a victim of sextortion in November 2022.
James Woods (Courtesy of Streetsboro Police Department/Streetsboro City Schools).
The Streetsboro High School professional athlete was preparing to finish and taking a look at colleges with the support of his caring household when criminals deceived him into messaging an improper image on a social media website.
" He was just a great soul so when those people contacted him it was just so foreign to him, he didn't know how to process it," stated Tim Woods, James's dad.
The teenager was ceaselessly badgered and threatened for almost twenty hours directly. They required cash and eventually began pressing him to devote suicide.
" Saying we're going to ruin your life, ensure he can't enter college, his moms and dads wouldn't love him, his pals wouldn't like him, he's going to go to jail… … it's beyond evil," said Tim and Tamia.
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Through their sorrow the couple started the non-profit structure "Do It For James" to inform and conserve other children.
" We're an open book with these kids due to the fact that they need to know," said Tamia.
While speaking at schools with parents and students over the last 12-months they state they have actually heard of kids being targeted with AI sextortion, however fortunately because they had heard about James, they informed their parents and were not damaged.
The Woods motivate parents to interact with their kids about these hazards, even if you think they already know what to do.
" Tell them no matter what, I have your back," stated Tamia.
Other tips consist of:.
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- Tightening security settings on all social media account
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- Limit recognizable information published online
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- Only share or connect with people you really understand
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And Agent Rao says if something does occur, "Take a deep breath and go back because they want to ratchet up panic and anxiety.".
He states remember the 3 "R's":.
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- Resist reacting
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- Retain the details, images and messages
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- Report it to police, the platform where they called you and the FBI at the web crimes grievance center
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" We try and examine to locate everything," he said and frequently together with other companies the images can be rapidly taken down.
He likewise recommended calling and reporting it to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website "Take It Down" who can help remove the images.
Tamia and Tim state do whatever you can so that their story doesn't become yours.
" Never, never! I would have never believed that this would be our story," stated Tamia.
" Because that is not who he was, he kept away from difficulty…… he was simply an excellent soul," included Tim.
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