B.C. RCMP issues sextortion warning after boy takes his own life

Content warning: This article deals with the subject of suicide. If you or a loved one is at risk of self-harm, the BC Crisis Centre can be reached at 1-800-784-2433. Translation services are available.

Mounties in Prince George are urging parents and guardians to have a conversation with their children about online activity, specifically sextortion, following a devastating incident in October.

The RCMP says a 12-year-old boy was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a home in the city on Oct. 12. According to police, their investigation revealed the child “took his own life in response to online sextortion.”

“We are calling for parents and caregivers to be honest with their youth about the dangers of online activity, especially if they are engaging in chats with people they don’t know in real life,” said Corp. Jennifer Cooper.

“While not every case of online sextortion will end in tragedy, the consequences of this kind of activity can follow a youth for their entire life, which needs to be something we talk about openly with our kids.”

Few details are available about the 12-year-old’s case, though the RCMP says its “investigation is ongoing as police officers continue their efforts to identify a suspect.”

Cooper says identifying a suspect in a case like this can take time because they could be anywhere in the world.

Even once a suspect is located, Cooper says the RCMP must work with the country they’re located in to determine whether it also recognizes sextortion as a crime if they are outside of Canada.

Cooper adds working with social media platforms involved in cases like this can also prove to be a challenge because they too are often based outside of Canada.

“We will not have any updates for some time on this,” she said.

In a case of sextortion, a person is typically extorted for money or sexual favours by someone who is threatening to expose the victim’s online sexual activity. The Prince George RCMP says reports of sextortion rise every year, and adds cases commonly involve children between the age of 13 and 18.

So far this year, the detachment says it’s received over 60 reports of these cases — up from 56 reported in 2022.

The RCMP recommends anyone who is a victim of sextortion to immediately stop communicating with the person coercing them, and not give in to demands. In addition to deactivating accounts being used to communicate with the perpetrator, Mounties are encouraging victims to contact their local police department and to seek support.

“You don’t have to give in to the person’s demands,” Cooper said. “Report it to your local authorities, report it to the social media platforms that you’re experiencing this on and shut everything down.”

Mother of Amanda Todd says adults need to be doing more

Eleven years after Amanda Todd’s death, her mother is speaking up on her birthday about this latest case of sextortion in Canada.

Carol Todd says the sextortion of young people is an epidemic that needs more attention from parents, guardians, and educators.

“This is happening all over the world, the internet has no boundaries,” Todd said.

To prevent tragedies like this from continuing to happen, Todd says adults really need to take the time to talk to their kids about how to navigate the internet.

She says over the past few years, online offenders have gotten smarter and the kids they’re targeting have gotten younger.

“We don’t leave our front doors unlocked for people to come through,” she said. “But there are times when we’re leaving our kids’ mobile devices unlocked so that people can come through and talk to them.”

If parents have given their child a device, Todd says it is their responsibility to have conversations with them about how to protect themselves while using it.

She says the dangers children can encounter online are “adult-sized problems” and therefore, adults need to know about them.

Todd encourages adults to seek out online resources and webinars for families that can help educate both parents and children on the dangers of online exploitation.