VIDALIA, La. — The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office issued an urgent warning today about a disturbing trend targeting juvenile males online.
Reports have been received of adult individuals, often located overseas, creating fake online profiles and posing as young females. These individuals are engaging in conversations with juvenile males, building trust, and then coercing them into sending inappropriate pictures.
Once the images are obtained, money is demanded from the victims and their families with threats to distribute the explicit photos across the internet and social media if these demands are not met.
“Please be vigilant and talk to your children about online safety,” CPSO states.
Emphasize the following:
• Never share personal information or photos with strangers online.
• Be cautious of friend requests from people they don’t know in real life.
• Understand that people online may not be who they say they are.
• If someone online asks for inappropriate pictures or makes them feel uncomfortable, they should immediately stop communication and tell a trusted adult.
• Never give in to demands for money or other favors from someone threatening to share private information.
“If your child has been a victim of this type of online exploitation, please do not hesitate to contact the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office immediately. We are here to help and take these matters very seriously,” CPSO states.
“Let’s work together to protect our children from these predatory online behaviors. Please share this post to help raise awareness within our community.”
For more online safety resources, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s NetSmartz program here.
The post Beware of trending sextortion scam online targeting juveniles, sheriff’s office says appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.
This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here
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