Sextortion Initiative

Formed in spring of 2025, the Sextortion Initiative combines the strengths and knowledge of law enforcement, experts, and nonprofits to tackle a rising issue: sextortion. 

The office's Sextortion Initiative is focused on the crime of financial sextortion. The Department of Homeland Security defines it as "when a predator demands money or gift cards in exchange for keeping the victim’s sexual content private". Coercion, manipulation, and urgency are all a part of the sextortion scheme and criminals are targeting American youth, particularly teenage boys. State Attorney Melissa Nelson, a mother of three, found the statistics alarming and created the Initiative as a collaborative effort to further prevent harm to our children.

In 2025, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received about 137 reports of financial sextortion a day. Dozens of teen suicides across the country have been the result of sextortion. The office has put together resources at the bottom of this page to help victims navigate their next steps.

Watch this video to learn about what sextortion can look like and share it with your kids today.

Resources for parents and children:

• Here Tomorrow, the Initiative's official partner, has resources and information for victims of sextortion. They have trained peers available to talk to help you through your next steps so you will be here tomorrow. 
• Watch these short videos, created by the Department of Homeland Security Know2Protect team, to help explain sextortion to your kids.
• Take It Down is a legitimate organization through National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that can help you remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18. Visit the site and start the process here.