Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI and its partners at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, or NCMEC, are receiving a growing number of reports of sextortion.

Sextortion is a form of sexual exploitation that happens when a perpetrator uses coercion to obtain sexual images, videos, money, or even sex from a victim, including children and teens.

FBI Deputy Assistant Director Chris Warrener says investigations show…

Chris Warrener: Often times what we’re going to find that it’s not just one victim, it’s multiple victims—sometimes it’s hundreds of victims—and so our investigation is going to be pretty wide ranging.

Halpern: Investigators believe the crime is underreported.

Warrener: By having the courage to come forward, you’re going to likely prevent other people from being victimized.

Halpern: One of the best ways to prevent sextortion is awareness.

Warrener: Parents should have conversations with children about social networking and about the dangers that there are predators out there who will victimize them and that it can have a huge impact on their life.

Halpern: Report sextortion to your local FBI field office or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. With FBI, This Week, I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau.