Manlius, N.Y. — Students in the East Syracuse Minoa and Fayetteville-Manlius school districts are being targeted and threatened for intimate photos online, police said.
At least six people, all under the age of 16, have been targeted, said Sgt. Kenneth Hatter, a spokesperson for the Manlius Police. Many others may have been contacted but have not come forward, he said.
All but two students provided intimate photos to the people, he said. The teens were all asked to provide more intimate photos or the person would post online the ones they already shared, he said.
It is unclear if it is one person or more targeting the teens but it is believed the same people are targeting the teens, he said.
One Fayetteville-Manlius student was contacted over social media, the district reported on its website. The other five students targeted are in the East Syracuse Minoa district, he said.
The crime being committed is sextortion: a stranger threatens to share someone’s intimate photos unless they get what they want, often money, Hatter said. Other times they demand more intimate photos by threatening to post the photos already provided, he said.
The targeting often happens over social media or dating sites and starts with an encounter that seems innocent, he said.
The crime has become more prevalent over the past couple of years with over 3,000 juveniles targeted last year, he said.
Anyone targeted in a sextortion crime should not delete the messages, Hatter said. They should contact the police, he said.
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.