Sextortion crimes are on the rise in the Tampa Bay area.
A St. Pete cop stated that apprehending these individuals is one of his top objectives.
Sextortion occurs when a suspect persuades a victim to give indecent images and then threatens to release those photos unless the victim pays.
In our location, it is a crime that targets both youngsters and adults.
These types of crimes, according to St. Pete PD Detective Henry Snowden, are on the upswing and target both adults and children.
He stated that apprehending the culprits is one of their top priority, but the fact that the crime was conducted online complicates the investigation.
“When I say that is because a lot of these suspects are clever; they use different names and different pictures. Some of them may not be in the city, some not in the state, some might not even be in the country,” Detective Snowden said.
He said they have caught several suspects and are working hard to find the others. In the meantime, he said to have your guard up when talking to people online.
“Don’t give out phone numbers, don’t send pictures, don’t fall for the trap of being extorted,” Detective Snowden said.
He said a lot of the crimes are committed on Snapchat, dating apps, and gaming platforms.