The FBI describes sextortion as a crime that "involves coercing victims into providing sexually explicit photos or videos of themselves, then threatening to share them publicly or with the victim's family and friends."
"Malicious actors use content manipulation technologies and services to exploit photos and videos – typically captured from an individual's social media account, open internet or requested from the victim – into sexually-themed images that appear true-to-life in likeness to a victim, then circulate them on social media, public forums or pornographic websites," the FBI said in a June 5 PSA.
"Many victims, which have included minors, are unaware their images were copied, manipulated and circulated until it was brought to their attention by someone else." At least a dozen sextortion-related suicides have been reported across the country, according to the latest FBI figures.
"Malicious actors use content manipulation technologies and services to exploit photos and videos – typically captured from an individual's social media account, open internet or requested from the victim – into sexually-themed images that appear true-to-life in likeness to a victim, then circulate them on social media, public forums or pornographic websites," the FBI said in a June 5 PSA.
"Many victims, which have included minors, are unaware their images were copied, manipulated and circulated until it was brought to their attention by someone else." At least a dozen sextortion-related suicides have been reported across the country, according to the latest FBI figures.