September 1, 2026 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials issue a safety warning about a rise in sextortion cases.

What if someone your child met online wasn’t who they claimed to be?

Sextortion is an online crime that is increasingly targeting young people through social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms. We are seeing these cases here in Ventura County.

Suspects often pose as teenagers or young adults to gain a child’s trust, then ask for intimate photos or videos. Once an image is shared, they demand money and threaten to send the content to family members or friends.

It’s important to know, paying usually won’t make the threats stop. In many cases, the suspect continues demanding more money.

Parents, please have regular conversations with your children about their online activity. Talk to them about the dangers of direct messaging. Remind them never to send nude or sexually explicit images even to someone they believe they know or trust. And most importantly, make sure they know they can come to you without fear of punishment.

If you or someone you know is a victim, report it immediately to law enforcement.

View video here.

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office