I have your nudes and everything needed to ruin your life. This chilling message was received on social media by US teenager Evan Boettler, from someone he believed was a young girl - a cyber-scammer in disguise.
Just 90 minutes later, the 16-year-old took his own life, succumbing to the relentless pressure of sextortion, a rapidly growing online crime targeting teenagers, primarily in the US and Europe.
Evan's tragic story is echoed by many young victims who have been cornered into sending intimate images, only to face threats of exposure if they do not comply with demands for money.
Nearly two years after Evan's death, his parents struggle with immense grief and unanswered questions. Despite their efforts to seek justice and uncover the identity of their son's tormentor, they face obstacles, particularly from social media platforms that refuse to share user data without a court order.
As the investigation unfolds, it leads to Nigeria, where many of these crimes are orchestrated by organized groups known as 'Yahoo Boys'. Scammers utilize fake profiles to entice their victims before launching attacks of blackmail.
In interviews with scammers like Ola, the mechanics of sextortion are revealed. They operate under a ruthless business model that exploits the fears and vulnerabilities of teenagers.
The article also sheds light on a significant rise in sextortion cases reported to the FBI, with numbers doubling in the past three years, underscoring the urgency for social media companies to take stronger measures against such crimes.
Brandon Guffey, another parent who lost his son to a similar scam, advocates for accountability from Meta, the parent company of Instagram, highlighting a systemic failure to protect young users from these predators.
With minimal progress from authorities and social media networks criticized for their inaction, families like the Boettlers are left seeking resolution, reflecting the ongoing battle against the pervasive threat of online exploitation.
