April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. While we often think of physical or emotional abuse, there is growing concern about the prevalence of a type of digital abuse called sextortion.
US Homeland Security Investigations received over 3,000 sextortion tips in 2022 alone and that number is likely growing.
Prevention educator Syd Ovitt and mental health counselor Tiana Lewis of St. Peter’s Crime Victims Services appeared on WTEN/News10 to discuss this increasing form of sexual abuse and the red flags to look out for.
From the interview:
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where someone threatens to distribute a victim’s private or explicit images or videos unless the victim complies with their demands. Financial sextortion occurs when a predator demands money or gift cards in exchange for keeping their sexual images private. The FBI says sextortion—particularly financially motivated sextortion targeting minors—has reached “explosive” and “alarming” levels. The emotional toll, especially for minors can be devastating with potentially severe consequences. It’s important to note in the age of AI – explicit images can be created of anyone and while they may be fake, others won’t know the difference and those phony images can be just as damaging.
Prevention educator, Syd Ovitt, and mental health counselor, Tiana Lewis, of St. Peter’s Crime Victims Services joined us in studio this morning to share their insight for today’s Women’s Health Wednesday. They shared the red flags to look out for – someone asking for personal information, urgency, social media platform hopping from one site to another – and they say, to trust your gut if you think something might be wrong.
Ovitt and Lewis say it is crucial to report this type of digital abuse to law enforcement or at least to a trusted adult who can contact authorities. Anyone in need of support or help can call St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services 24-hour crisis hotline at (518)271-3257.
Click here to watch WTEN’s report.
