'Predators don't have to kidnap a child to abuse them.' Families learn about sextortion
BELOIT − Most children start as happy and hungry babies.
Along the way, they grow and expand their bubble, adding school and friends.
They socialize or play games online. They meet people there, and not all of them have good intentions.
Column:Foster care children are easy prey for predators: They disappear without a real search
"The bubble does not protect you from the dangers of the internet," said Alicia "Kozak" Kozakiewicz, founder of the advocacy group Alicia Project.
The 34-year-old survivor of an abduction − and namesake of Alicia's Law − led a program detailing online safety and sextortion Tuesday night at West Branch High School. The event was open to the public, after two sessions held during the school day for students.
At 13, Kozakiewicz became a victim of internet luring and child abduction in 2002 in Pittsburgh.
"I got a miracle," Kozakiewicz said.
FBI has reported an increase in sextortion cases involving children and teens threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online. The person asks for money or sexual favors to keep the pictures private.
The suspect is usually an adult pretending to be another child or teen.
In November, a Streetsboro High senior died by suicide after a case of sextortion. Cases are popping up regularly in Northeast Ohio.
"These people are one click away from your children," Kozakiewicz said.
West Branch Superintendent Micki Elgi said the presentation was needed because some students in the district have encountered similar situations, and the community needs to be more aware of these issues.
Eye-opening presentations for parents
About 50 people − mostly parents − attended the two-hour presentation. It was an eye-opening and possibly life-saving experience.
There were also student presentations earlier in the week.
Take It Down:National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has a new online photo removal service.
For example, Mary Fannin said she was expecting a "scared straight" event − and it was scary, at times − but she was going home with more knowledge and a better approach for communicating with her fifth-grade son.
"I can't totally protect (my child) from bad people," Fannin said, "but I can teach (him) to come to me when he has problems."
Kozakiewicz said it was important for parents or guardians to learn more about these issues and have "uncomfortable" conversations with their children.
She said they also should learn about the different social media platforms, like Omegle, and gaming platforms available online for their children. She said parents should create their own accounts on these platforms to stay informed.
Why?
Kozakiewicz said many online predators don't hide their identities, don't look like that "creepy old guy," and start out friendly. But all of them hide their intentions then morph into the person their victims need them to be, she said.
"We have to talk to our kids about this," Kozakiewicz said.
She also said the victim is "not at fault" because online predators groom their victims for weeks or months, making them feel special and putting wedges in the victim's life that draws them closer. "Predators are good at this."
Christine Irey, the mother of a fifth grader and eighth grader, was thankful for the information. She said if it could happen to Kozakiewicz, it "could happen to my daughter or my son. They have phones."
Predators don't have to kidnap to abuse
Kozakiewicz, sharing some crime stories, said online predators will groom girls or boys, and the situation has gotten worse since COVID-19 because social media and gaming platforms turned into major social outlets.
"Predators don't have to kidnap a child to abuse them," she said.
For example, sextortion has no physical contact between the victim and the abuser but it destroys all the same. Kozakiewicz said sextortion scammers frequently target boys because they are less likely to come forward.
"They pretend to be a girl, a pretty girl," she said, and the scammers build-up the boy's self-esteem confidence. "She sends him an explicit photo, so he feels the pressure and sends one back," snaring him into their trap.
"(The boys) don't want to," and some take their lives, she said.
Regional examples of sextortion
There have been at least five known sextortion cases in Northeast Ohio since November.
A 17-year-old Streetsboro High senior died by suicide Nov. 19 in neighboring Portage County, after being tormented. The case has gained national attention.
A Barberton teen is accused of threatening to kill a 14-year-old girl and her family to force her to share explicit photos and videos. He faces 49 felony charges.
In January, a 23-year-old Kent man was sentenced to at least 24 years in prison for manipulating children worldwide to send him nude photos and explicit videos.
A Streetsboro Middle School student was threatened into paying $200 worth of gift cards after he sent explicit photos. He reported the incident March 6.
A 33-year-old Ravenna man was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in January after he was involved in a scheme to exploit young girls through social media.
Get to know these apps
Alicia "Kozak" Kozakiewicz, founder of the advocacy group Alicia Project, said it is important for parents or guardians to familiarize them with social media and gaming platforms. "They are not inherently bad sites, but online predators use them, too," she said.
Here are some she said to check out:
Omegle - It is a free online chat website that permit one-on-one anonymous chat sessions. It lacks moderation on video chat and inappropriate content is easily viewable.
Snapchat - It is an instant messaging app and service that make content accessible for short periods of time.
TikTok - The short-form video site is popular and allows for videos of various lengths.
Roblox and Minecraft - The game platforms allow users to create, play and interact with other people in a virtual reality.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alicia Kozakiewicz talks about sextortion at West Branch High School
