"FBI and Police Uncover Online Sexual Extortion Scheme After Teen's Tragic Death in Small Michigan Town"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by UpNorthLive.com
The FBI and police in Michigan have uncovered an online sexual extortion scheme that led to the death of a 17-year-old boy. The teenager was targeted by two men from Nigeria who used a hacked Instagram account to demand money in exchange for not sharing explicit photos with the victim's family and friends. Unable to pay, the victim was pushed to commit suicide. The FBI has seen a significant increase in "sextortion" cases, with at least 3,000 children and teenagers targeted and over a dozen suicides reported. The perpetrators have pleaded not guilty, and the FBI is working to combat these schemes originating from African countries like Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.