With kids back to school, Trini Ross, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York, is talking about keeping kids safe on the internet.
In a video uploaded to YouTube, Ross says from cell phones to gaming systems and social media, kids are constantly connected to the internet. She says digital technology is making it easier for predators to exploit children, even if an adult is present.
Ross warns about sextortion, a form of blackmail used by predators to acquire sexual content from a child. The predator may use various methods, including coercion, to obtain nude or sexual images of a child and then use those images to blackmail the child for money or more sexual content.
She says in the Western District of New York, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is actively working to stop these predators. The organization is a coalition of federal, state and local agencies that specialize in hunting down the individuals who prey on children.
Ross says she hopes parents can do their part to help the tas force succeed.
"We need your help," said Ross. "Take a look at your kid's phone. Who are they talking to? What social media apps do they have access to? Have you noticed any changes in their behavior? You have the power to root out these individuals."
Ross asks that parents follow these steps if they believe their child, or a child they know, has been a victim of sextortion:
- Preserve the evidence by taking screenshots, writing down names, usernames and phone numbers
- Report to law enforcement by contacting the Buffalo FBI Field Office at 716-856-7800, the Albany FBI office at (518) 465-7551, or report it online at tips.FBI.gov
- Report the perpetrator on social media through an app's safety features that allow the reporting of misconduct that violates the terms of its service
- Do not comply with the predator's demands. Complying with or paying the perpetrator rarely stops the harassment or blackmail and may encourage them to continue