The Rise of Sextortion, a form of Cyber Extortion: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Cyber extortion is no longer confined to the shadowy corners of the internet or the boardrooms of large corporations—it’s now a threat to everyday families. A disturbing trend is emerging where young individuals are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated scams.

At the center of this alarming shift is a new form of digital blackmail known as Sextortion, where criminals leverage generative artificial intelligence (A.I.) tools to create explicit, fake images or videos, often based on innocent photos scraped from social media. These manipulated “deepfake” materials are then used to threaten and coerce victims, demanding money or additional compromising content under the threat of public exposure.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a 1,325% increase in generative-A.I. exploitation cases in 2024 alone and received more than 500,000 sextortion reports involving minors. Some local law enforcement agencies reported a near doubling of cases from 2024 to 2025.

The FBI has issued multiple warnings, highlighting that perpetrators often operate through social media and dating platforms to identify and groom their targets. But sextortion is only one part of a much larger, darker threat landscape. According to an ITEAM investigation and testimony from U.S. lawmakers, a global online network known as “764” has been described by the FBI as a new form of modern-day terrorism targeting children online. Members of this network find vulnerable teens on popular platforms, obtain intimate images or personal information, and then use that material to pressure or coerce victims into harmful or distressing actions, sometimes while encouraging others to watch or share the content. Studies reveal that 1 in 6 teens contemplates suicide after becoming a victim of sextortion.. The FBI has called 764 one of the greatest current threats to teens online, and lawmakers are now pushing for federal legislation such as the Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online Act and the Stop Sextortion Act, aiming to hold these offenders fully accountable and prevent further tragedies.

Insights from the Snap Inc. Global Study in October 2024 further reveal the extent of the problem. Surveying over 6,000 young people, the study found that 23% had experienced sextortion. More than 50% admitted to engaging in risky online behavior, such as being catfished or sharing intimate images. Of those who shared such content, 63% were deceived by the recipient, and 58% lost control over their images.

A Parent’s Worst Nightmare

The emotional and financial toll on victims can be devastating. One heartbreaking example is Elijah Heacock, a vibrant, well-adjusted teenager who received a text containing an AI-generated nude image of himself. The sender demanded $3,000 to prevent the image from being sent to his friends and family. Unable to cope with the shame and fear, Elijah took his own life (MSN).

The rise of groups like 764, who intentionally push children toward violence or self-harm for entertainment or coercion, shows that this is not merely a “cybercrime problem", it is a public safety and mental-health emergency. Law enforcement continues to warn that these networks thrive in secrecy and speed, making proactive prevention essential. 

What You Can Do: Fight Sextortion with Smarter Protection

One of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of crimes like sextortion is to secure the device itself, starting with the keyboard. Many attacks begin when criminals use hidden keyloggers to steal passwords, social logins, and private information. Once they gain access to a child’s accounts, it becomes far easier for them to impersonate, manipulate, or exploit them.

Keystroke Lock™ encrypts every keystroke the instant it’s typed, blocking keyloggers and preventing criminals from capturing the information they rely on to break in. By stopping account takeovers, credential and identity theft at the source, Keystroke Lock helps families stay ahead of online threats and reduces the chances of sensitive content being accessed or abused. Learn more at keystrokelock.com