University of Missouri police warn of ‘sextortion’ scams targeting students

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The College of Missouri Police Division is warning of extortion scams, which frequently goal school college students by way of using express photographs.

MUPD stated it has acquired 10 experiences of sexual extortion, or “sextortion,” throughout the present educational college 12 months.

Police stated scammers goal school college students by way of apps like Snapchat and Instagram.

The scammers flirt with the goal earlier than soliciting sexual pictures and movies. As soon as the scammer receives the sexual pictures and movies, they usually threaten to share them until the sufferer pays them cash.

“While you’re on-line, it’s troublesome to establish who you’re interacting with,” James Younger, a criminal offense prevention officer with MUPD, stated in a press release. “We strongly encourage college students to contemplate the dangers earlier than sending or posting something they could remorse later.” 

The FBI reported an “explosion” of extortion instances focusing on kids and youngsters in December 2022 with greater than 7,000 experiences and three,000 victims throughout the prior 12 months.

“The disgrace, concern, and confusion kids really feel when they’re caught on this cycle typically prevents them from asking for assist or reporting the abuse,” the FBI stated in a launch. “Caregivers and younger individuals ought to perceive how the crime happens and brazenly focus on on-line security.”

MUPD stated some ideas to enhance on-line security embrace being selective about what you share and who you share delicate content material with, being cautious about messages from strangers and conscious of potential catfishing.

Police additionally instructed not sharing sexual pictures or movies with somebody you do not know, to be suspicious of people that ask to change platforms to talk and to report suspicious accounts.

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For jurisdictions that make the most of the Larger Kansas Metropolis Crime Stoppers Ideas Hotline, nameless ideas could be made by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip on-line or by way of the free cell app at P3Tips.com.

Annual murder particulars and knowledge for the Kansas Metropolis space can be found by way of the KSHB 41 Information Murder Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Learn the KSHB 41 Information Mug Shot Coverage.