CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 Chicago I-Team has an alert on sextortion. It involves threatening letters delivered through email or direct message, claiming to have compromising videos, but they're scams.

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). South Carolina Republican state ...

Gavin Guffey sent a message to his younger brother and friends in the predawn hours of July 27 last year. It was short and cryptic: The heart-shaped symbol of love -- <3 -- on a black background.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — State lawmakers are trying to pass a series of bills to strengthen laws against sextortion as police said they are dealing with an increase in sextortion-related crimes. Under the ...

CHARLOTTE — A South Carolina lawmaker who has been leading the fight against sextortion following his son’s death is now taking on a social media giant. South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey is ...

Sextortion occurs when a predator using a fake or hacked account engages in a sexual conversation with you online and then blackmails you, often with nude photos you exchanged or sexually explicit ...

Gavin Guffey, 17, died by suicide in 2022 after he was a victim of a sextortion scheme. Courtesy Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York COLUMBIA, S.C. Using sexually explicit photos to blackmail minors and ...

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). About two out of every three ...

“And then all of a sudden I got messages late at night with all sorts of threats” said Alex. “Um, things about sharing [intimate] photos about the things we had. And threatening me.” Alex continued ...

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (or call 800-273-8255) to connect ...