Increase in sexual extortion cases in Maine
STATEWIDE — A recent spike in online sex crimes has become a concern for Maine state officials.
The United States Department of Justice reports that there has been an increase in cases involving the sexual exploitation of minors across the U.S. In the past year.
According to Darcie McElwee, the U.S. Attorney for the district of Maine, the crime is known as sextortion, and involves predators posing online as teenagers and asking for illicit images, which they use to exploit underage victims.
“Once that photo is sent, they will either insist on other photos being sent, or worse, that money be sent to avoid the sextortionist then sharing those photos with whomever.”
McElwee says that sextortion can happen to anyone, but that boys between the ages of 14 and 17 and girls between the ages of 12 and 17 are the most common victims.
Predators often utilize gaming platforms, apps, and social media to commit these crimes while hiding their identities. McElwee says victims are often afraid to come forward, but that it’s important to talk about the issue.
“It’s not their fault, it’s the sextortionist’s fault, and that they haven’t done anything wrong, and they should report these things to a trusted adult as soon as possible,” said McElwee.
McElwee says it’s important for parents to talk to their kids about online safety and encourage them to speak up when they are concerned.
For more information on sextortion, visit the website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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