Speaking of Teens
#129: Your Teen Could Be Extorted Or Abused By Online Predators and Criminals
The number of things we have to warn our teenagers and children about these days can be overwhelming. And when it comes to the wild, wild, west of the internet, it seems there's something new every few months.
As much as we'd like to think these things can't happen to our teens, they can and do - everyday. There are many extremely depraved individuals online who make it their job to target, groom, and extort kids and teens. They pose as someone your child's age, gain their trust, trick them and then either force them to do things online or extort them for money. It's unthinkable, but very, very real and happening across the globe.
Don't think it can't happen to your teenager or your child. It happens every day to families who felt the same way. Join me today as I explain what's going on, how to talk to your teens about it and what to do if the unthinkable happens.
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Sources, Resources and Mentions:
FBI on Dangerous Online Groups
Washington Post on Predatory Online Groups
Network Contagion Research Institute (U.S. Stats)
A Crazy Story about Sexual Extortion
Nigerian Brothers Pleaded Guilty (Michigan Teen's Suicide)
THORN on Grooming and Sextortion
TED Talk by THORN CEO, Julia Cordua
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) - How to Notify Platforms
NCMEC Cybertipline.org to have them help you
For Teens without parental support - Reach out to gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST
Report to:
U.S. - Local FBI Field Office
Canada - Cybertip.ca
Great Britain - The CEOP
Australia - eSafety Commissioner
All European Reporting Channels