Sextortion trend rising, local law enforcement provide safety tips

DELMARVA – The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents to educate themselves on the dangers of Sextortion.

It’s a growing nationwide trend involving a type of blackmail used to gain sexual content or money from a child.

Sheriff Matt Crisafulli said his office has received reports on these cases, even some with adult victims. He advised parents to keep open communication with their child and closely monitor their access to the internet. “Only a daily basis, my recommendation to parents is to do spot checks. Ask to see your child’s phones and go through the content on their phones,” Sheriff Crisafulli said.

“Education is key. We want to prevent our children from becoming victimized by these predators on social media.”

Sheriff Crisafulli said parents should encourage children not to change any passwords on their phones or other devices without their consent. He also advised victims to not delete the messages off their profile and report them to a teacher, School Resource Deputy, or any trusted adult.

You should contact your local law enforcement agencies if you been a victim of this type of crime.

You can also report a crime online at report.cybertip.org. You can also text BEFREE (233733).