On Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Central High School, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will host an important session for area parents and guardians entitled Rising Issues of Online Safety, Security and Sextortion. The presentation will take place in the Bethlehem High School auditorium, located at 700 Delaware Ave in Delmar.

The presentation is for adults only. It is appropriate for parents, guardians, caregivers, faculty and staff. It is not intended for students. The event will be open to parents and guardians from school districts throughout the Capital Region.

The FBI has recently seen an increase in financial sextortion cases targeting minor victims in the United States. In these cases, the offender receives sexually explicit material from the minor and then threatens to release the compromising material unless the victim sends money and/or gift cards. This increasing threat has resulted in an alarming number of deaths by suicide. As a result, the FBI has been making an effort to educate parents and guardians about this issue and to provide learning materials and resources to families.

Click here to learn more about online safety and sextortion (FBI website).