The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to be aware of a recent increase in social media-based sextortion cases.
Deputies say over the past week, they have handled four separate cases involving online intimate images through various social media platforms.
In each case deputies say victims sent intimate photos or videos to people they believed they could trust, but shortly after sending the images, they received threatening messages demanding money. The suspects warned that if their demands were not met, they would distribute the explicit content to the victims’ contacts and social networks.
They say in some instances, the suspects also made threats by claiming they would also accuse the victims of involvement in child pornography manufacturing, further intensifying the pressure and fear on the victims.
"We urge community members to exercise extreme caution when communicating online, especially when engaging in conversations that may involve sharing personal or intimate content with individuals they do not know personally. It is crucial to understand that once an image is shared digitally, it can be exploited by individuals with malicious intent. Victims should not comply with the extortion demands but should, instead, report the incident to law enforcement immediately."
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating these incidents.
To report an incident, contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (775) 785-9276 (WCSO). You can also call or text your anonymous tip at Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.
(The Washoe County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report.)
