Digital Exploitation and the Fight Against Extortion

Online sextortion, involving coercing a victim to send sensitive or intimate images online, is one of the fastest-growing forms of exploitation, often targeting teens through fake profiles and disappearing digital trails. Detective Dustin Stewart of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office joins us to discuss how online predators manipulate victims, why shame prevents reporting, and how investigations are challenged when offenders appear to vanish online. He highlights warning signs that parents and schools should watch for and shares strategies investigators use to preserve digital evidence and prevent predators.