Sextortion is on the rise as students head back to school, Nebraska authorities warn

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Local authorities are warning families about sextortion as students head back to school across southeast Nebraska.

It typically begins when someone shares private photos of themself with a stranger they’ve only met online.

“What they will do is turn a conversation with a child into a situation where they’re asking for inappropriate photograph,” said Capt. John Vik with Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.

The predator will often pose as a child of similar age, he said.

Criminals then take that sensitive material and threaten to share it with others unless they receive money or sexual favors. 

UNL Police say sextortion is becoming much more common among college students, too. 

“Sextortion is something that’s 100% preventable if you don’t send those images out,” Sgt. Agustin Champion said.

UNL Police encourage everyone not to be cautious with what you share online.

“Once you send it out, people have the ability to share it, to download it to their personal files,” Champion said. “It’s just extremely hard to get those pictures back.”

Help is available if you’ve fallen victim to sextortion or any other form of sexual violence.  

Take It Down and StopNCII.org will help you remove nude photos and videos from the internet.