The Pink Times
Aa
  • Home
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Drag
    • Books
    • Entertainment
    • Drag
    • Fashion
    • History
    • Love
    • People
    • PhotographyTrending
    • Religion
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Ron DeSantis: Unyielding Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in Florida
    May 14, 2023
    Uganda Enacts Harsh Anti-LGBTQ Law, Drawing Global Outrage and Potential Sanctions
    May 29, 2023
    Disney Sues Florida Governor Over “Don’t Say Gay” Bill: Will This Hurt DeSantis’ 2024 Presidential Bid?
    April 27, 2023
    Latest News
    Controversial Franklin Mayoral Candidate Conceals Past Legal Troubles
    September 22, 2023
    Trump’s Nonchalant Response to Transgender Question Raises Eyebrows
    September 22, 2023
    Ron DeSantis Trails Trump by Wide Margins in Early Republican Primary Polls
    September 22, 2023
    Disney CEO Addresses Culture War Amid Investment Surge
    September 22, 2023
  • Law
    Law
    Show More
    Top News
    Disney Sues Florida Governor Over “Don’t Say Gay” Bill: Will This Hurt DeSantis’ 2024 Presidential Bid?
    April 27, 2023
    Brooklyn Dancer O’Shea Sibley Fatally Stabbed After Voguing, NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force Investigates
    August 2, 2023
    Five dead, 18 injured in shooting at gay nightclub in Colorado, police say
    November 20, 2022
    Latest News
    Iowa Firefighter Dismissed Over Inappropriate Comment in Workplace Ethics Violation
    September 22, 2023
    Ugandan ‘Ex-Gay’ Activist Faces Charges Under Controversial Anti-Homosexuality Law
    September 20, 2023
    Conservative Culture War Targets Drag Performers: Legal Battles and LGBTQ+ Resistance
    September 20, 2023
    Nigeria Court Grants Bail to 69 Arrested in Alleged Same-Sex Wedding Case
    September 20, 2023
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    Florida’s Restrictive Laws Leave Transgender Adults Struggling for Care
    June 5, 2023
    Nebraska Governor Signs Bill Banning Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth, Amidst Controversy and Lack of Understanding
    May 24, 2023
    South Dakota Governor Signs Bill Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth
    February 14, 2023
    Latest News
    Catalonia Takes Bold Step to Combat Period Poverty
    September 22, 2023
    Former Disney Channel Actor Matthew Scott Montgomery Reveals Shocking Experience with “Conversion Therapy”
    September 20, 2023
    Coroner Highlights Underfunding of Transgender Services in Tragic Case
    September 20, 2023
    Transgender Woman’s Tragic Suicide Exposes Gaps in Gender-Affirming Healthcare
    September 19, 2023
  • Money
    Money
    Show More
    Top News
    Target Adjusts Pride Displays Amid Customer Complaints
    May 24, 2023
    Anheuser-Busch faces backlash over partnership with transgender influencer and Pride-themed Bud Light cans
    April 10, 2023
    Bud Light Defends Trans Influencer Partnership in March Madness Campaign Amid Backlash
    April 16, 2023
    Latest News
    Iceland Supermarket CEO Retracts HIV Needle Attack Claims, Faces Criticism
    September 23, 2023
    Disney CEO Addresses Culture War Amid Investment Surge
    September 22, 2023
    Challenges and Consequences: Bud Light’s Controversial Dive into LGBTQ+ Marketing
    September 20, 2023
    Chick-Fil-A Plans UK Expansion Amidst Past LGBT Controversy
    September 17, 2023
  • Sports
    Sports
    Show More
    Top News
    Australia players call out Qatar on LGBTQ, worker rights
    October 27, 2022
    Qatar World Cup ambassador says homosexuality is ‘damage in the mind’
    November 8, 2022
    Shocking Homophobic Slurs: Top Basketball Coach’s Controversial Radio Interview Exposed
    May 10, 2023
    Latest News
    Wesley Campbell: World-Class Figure Skater and LGBT Icon
    September 23, 2023
    University of Alabama Condemns Racist and Homophobic Slurs Targeting Texas Longhorn Players
    September 19, 2023
    Robbie Manson’s Olympic Journey Continues on OnlyFans
    September 14, 2023
    Is Football Finally Embracing LGBTQ+ Inclusivity?
    September 11, 2023
  • Media
    Media
    Show More
    Top News
    ‘Eternals,’ ‘Mitchells,’ ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Star Trek’ lead GLAAD Awards
    January 23, 2022
    Trans Rights in Peril: RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Issues Urgent Warning
    February 5, 2023
    Iraq Restricts Media Language Pertaining to Sexual Identity
    August 9, 2023
    Latest News
    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Defends Anti-LGBTQ+ Stance, Blames Media
    September 18, 2023
    Madonna’s Uncompromising Artistic Integrity Shines as Pepsi Revisits Controversial Ad
    September 14, 2023
    Watch: Controversial Rep. George Santos Evades Questions in CNN Interview
    September 14, 2023
    Media Regulators Uphold Accuracy in Labeling Anti-Trans Activist Posie Parker in New Zealand
    September 14, 2023
  • Activism
    Activism
    Show More
    Top News
    Sydney’s WorldPride 2023 Begins with a Bang: Check out the Photos from Mardi Gras Fair Day
    February 19, 2023
    Sydney Opera House Illuminated in Pride Progress Flag for WorldPride 2023
    February 19, 2023
    Thousands join Budapest Pride march against anti-LGBTQ law
    July 27, 2021
    Latest News
    Anti-Trans Rallies Spark LGBTQ+ Counterprotests Across Canada
    September 22, 2023
    Congress Proposes Commission to Examine Legacy of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ and Seek Reconciliation in the Military
    September 21, 2023
    San Francisco’s Drag Laureate Takes Center Stage Amidst Rising Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
    September 20, 2023
    Changing Tides: LGBTQ+ Progress in Small-Town India
    September 20, 2023
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    Club Q in Colorado Springs Announces Plans to Rebuild and Reopen After Shooting Tragedy
    February 14, 2023
    More Britons identify as bisexual than gay or lesbian – survey
    October 9, 2022
    Italy’s Crackdown on LGBT Parents Sparks Outrage Among Rainbow Families
    April 6, 2023
    Latest News
    Anderson Cooper Reflects on Parenthood and Confronting Grief
    September 23, 2023
    LGBTQ+ Couple Inspires Fostering at Taunton Pride
    September 17, 2023
    Lil Nas X’s Guiding Light: How He Empowered His Brother’s Coming Out
    September 14, 2023
    Challenging the ‘Gay Tax’: Fertility Equality for LGBTQ+ Couples in the UK
    September 7, 2023
Reading: Increasing Sextortion Scams Targeting Teenage Boys, Gay Adults
Share
Aa
The Pink Times
Search
  • Home
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Drag
    • Books
    • Entertainment
    • Drag
    • Fashion
    • History
    • Love
    • People
    • PhotographyTrending
    • Religion
  • Politics
  • Law
  • Health
  • Money
  • Sports
  • Media
  • Activism
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
The Pink Times > World News > United States > Increasing Sextortion Scams Targeting Teenage Boys, Gay Adults
LawTechUnited States

Increasing Sextortion Scams Targeting Teenage Boys, Gay Adults

The Pink Times
The Pink Times January 28, 2023
Updated 2023/01/28 at 2:15 PM
Share

The FBI and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations division have reported a significant increase in incidents involving teenage boys being tricked into sending explicit photos and videos of themselves to online scammers, who then attempt to extort money from their young victims. Spokespersons for both agencies, as well as the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, where sextortion cases have seen a dramatic increase, have stated that they are currently unaware of gay teenage boys being targeted for what authorities have dubbed “financial sextortion.”

However, a popular dating app for gay men, Grindr, has reported on its website that adult gay men using the app and other gay hookup apps have been targeted for sextortion in ways similar to straight teenage boys. The scammers convince the gay adult men to send explicit photos or videos of themselves, believing they are communicating with someone interested in a potential sexual hookup or relationship. The scammer then uses these images to blackmail the victim into sending large sums of money to prevent the scammer from releasing the photos or videos to the victim’s family, friends, or employer.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

In a Scam Awareness Guide on its website, Grindr notes that, unlike potential straight targets for sextortion, some scammers have threatened to out gay men, including bisexual men married to women, by sending their sexually explicit photos or videos to a spouse or other family members. Additionally, some scammers have set up fake profiles as underage individuals and threaten to report the victim to the police for soliciting sex with a minor unless a ransom is paid.

The FBI’s national office in Washington issued a “public safety alert” in December of last year regarding the increasing number of sextortion cases targeting teenage males. According to a press release from the agency, “over the past year, law enforcement has received over 7,000 reports related to the online financial sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides.”

“The FBI has seen a horrific increase in reports of financial sextortion schemes targeting minor boys—and the fact is that the many victims who are afraid to come forward are not even included in those numbers,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray in the FBI statement. “The FBI is here for victims, but we also need parents and caregivers to work with us to prevent this crime before it happens and help children come forward if it does,”

The FBI states that sextortion schemes occur most often through sites where young people interact with each other such as social media, gaming sites, or video chat applications. The agency also notes that a large percentage of these sextortion schemes originate outside of the United States, primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

The New York Times reached out to Jane Clementi, co-founder and CEO of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, which advocates for programs to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying, targeting LGBTQ youth. Clementi stated that she and her organization, which operates nationwide, were unaware of any specific gay youth or young adults being targeted for sextortion.

“The fact that this is on the rise is very disconcerting and means it needs to have more media coverage to inform youth and their parents about the harms and how to deal with the situation,” she said.

TAGGED: FBI, gay adults, Grindr, scam, sextortion, teenagers

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts and more!
Please wait...

Thank you for sign up!

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
The Pink Times January 28, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit VKontakte Telegram Email
Share

Latest Articles

Queer Stars Light Up Hallmark’s Christmas Lineup
TV
Colton Underwood Opens Up About His Evolving Sexual Identity
TV
Beyoncé’s Act of Inclusivity Shines in the Spotlight
Music
Loki Season Two Teaser Hints at Time-Bending Adventures and Queer Undertones
TV
Anderson Cooper Reflects on Parenthood and Confronting Grief
Family People

Most Viewed Posts

  • Hot Photos from Paul’s Book “Larrikin Prince” Unleashed
  • A Shift in Perspective: The Art of Male Nude Photography
  • Vintage Nude Mormon Bodybuilders: Unveiling the Forbidden Past of Utah’s Physique Models
  • Hot and Sexy: A Visual Exploration of Masculine Bravado and Regal Splendor
  • The Ginger Sensation of RuPaul’s Drag Race: A Tribute to Bryce Eilenberg
The Pink Times
Follow US

All rights reserved

News. Culture. Tea.

Must-read stories we're talking about across our community. Sign up for The Pink Times newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for sign up!

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?