'Sextortion' scams on the rise in NC, Orange County Sheriff's Office says

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office warned residents about a reported sexual extortion scheme Thursday.

The sheriff’s office said six people, including three on the same day, reported someone sent them text messages threatening to distribute naked photos of them to family members, friends and employers unless the text recipients sent money.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said none of the victims were minors.

What is 'sextortion?'

Sexual extortion, known as "sextortion," starts when a victim forms an online relationship through gaming, messaging or social media platforms with someone they believe to be an attractive peer near the same age.

“In reality, these profiles are fabricated by sophisticated criminals who understand adolescents and young adult psychology, and use this knowledge to manipulate their targets,” Orange County Investigator Patrick Gilchrist said. “The ‘relationship’ progresses, and eventually the victim succumbs to pressure and agrees to send nude photos or provocative videos.”

According to the sheriff's office, when the requestor receives the photos or videos, that person will start demanding money and threaten to send the photos to family, friends and coworkers.

While some people stop contacting the victim once they receive money, many victims said they received additional or escalating threats for money.

Former FBI agent and cyber security expert Darren Mott said the crimes can start on any website where people meet and communicate.

“Bad guys are always going to take technology and figure out how to use it for bad,” Mott explained.

In North Carolina, the FBI reported a 600% increase in sextortion cases in North Carolina between 2021 and 2022. The SBI reported nearly 19,000 cyber tips in NC in 2022, up from 2,500 in 2016.

‘People think it won't happen to my child’

South Carolina Representative Brandon Guffey said his son fell victim to sextortion.

“People think, ‘It won’t happen to my child,’” Guffey said. “I’m a firm believer this has been going on for a while.”

Guffey said his son, 17-year-old Gavin Guffey, was an artsy and “comfortable in his own skin.”

Scammers convinced Gavin to send nude photos of himself in exchange for money. Gavin died by suicide after being sexually extorted.

Brandon Guffey said Gavin’s suicide almost made him quit politics.

“After Gavin, I wanted to give up politics,” he said. “But my wife said I’m one of the only people who can force change.”

Guffey is leading the charge to push for harsher punishments for people involved in financially motivated sextortion cases.

In 2023, Gavin’s Law passed in South Carolina. The law makes sextortion and revenge porn a felony if the victim dies. The law carries a five-year prison sentence for first-time offenders, and increases to 20 years if the targeted child or at-risk adult dies.

How can North Carolinians keep their children safe?

Gilchrist said there are multiple ways parents can keep their children safe online to prevent sextortion.

“We encourage parents to remind their teen or young adult children about safe online activity, and repeatedly stress that no matter how secure it feels, they should never share revealing photos of themselves,” Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist also recommends reviewing your children’s privacy settings, safeguarding passwords and utilizing two-factor authentication.

Mott is encouraging parents to talk with their children about the risks of talking to strangers online.

“Parents need to talk to their kids about it and have that relationship where they can discuss this specific type of threat and issue so the shame is taken away,” he said.

Mott said if a parent’s child is victimized, they can report it to the FBI. He said text messages are valuable intelligence for the bureau when it comes to tracking down the people responsible.

“If it’s a naked image of a child and you send it, you’ve committed distribution of child pornography,” Mott said. “You’ve committed a federal crime.”

While North Carolina has laws about "revenge porn," Guffey is pushing for more states to adopt laws like Gavin’s Law.

“We’ve got to have these laws on the books and educate law enforcement,” he said. “I’ve spoken to a Chapel Hill legislator. [I’m] happy to meet with any legislator.”

How to get help

If young people are being exploited, they are the victim of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.