Wisconsin sextortion cases have skyrocketed in the past few years. Online tips to Wisconsin's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force related to sextortion have jumped from around 230 in 2024 to 650 in 2025, and that's only the reported cases.
Sextortion is a form of blackmail where a perpetrator targets a victim through social media or online while pretending to be someone of the preferred sex to elicit images/videos of an embarrassing or sexual nature. After these images/videos are obtained by the perpetrator, they start with threats of sharing these images/videos unless the victim sends more, sends money, etc.
Our youth are at risk of being targeted if we as a collective society don’t educate them. Cases are only rising, so I am asking the reader to educate yourselves, teach your children, and if you notice the signs, report it. You can report it to your local law enforcement, local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at . The FBI website has a vast number of resources and information regarding Sextortion. A great resource to get involved in is Join the Movement in Elkhorn; you can find them online at . I encourage you to check out the free toolkits that can help with navigating the conversation with your child, how to recognize the signs, and how to respond if your child is a target. Join the movement also offers workshops and presentations that can be requested for schools, organizations, and community groups. Please help the word spread to help youth and set them up for success.
MICHAELA WARPINSKI
Whitewater