How American Teenagers Are Targeted in ‘Sextortion’ Scams

AURORA, Mo.—Kari Boettler could not comprehend what she found on her late son’s cellphone on Feb. 5, 2024. She was searching the metadata to determine why 16-year-old Evan had shot... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

April 12, 2026

TODAY IN HISTORY The first space shuttle is launched. 1981 TOP STORIES How American Teenagers Are Targeted in ‘Sextortion’ Scams SHARE*     READ MORE In light of recent development in Iran, we're running a special promotion so more people can access our reporting almost for free. One Dollar. Six Months. Limited-Time. Ways to keep yourself informed are abundant but how much do you trust them? Besides the longstanding bias in the media landscape, the surge of AI has further blurred the line between creativity and fabrication. What’s real, what’s artificial? What’s insightful, what’s merely ostensible? The world demands authenticity and integrity more than ever. We heard that call. Guided by our founding principles of truth and tradition, The Epoch Times remains steadfast in our pursuit in traditional journalism. Every single report you read is written by a human, striving always for accuracy and clarity. While consuming news and analysis, we invite you to scroll beyond the headlines and explore our stories on life, arts, culture, and wisdom. Our feature coverage—cherished by many—offers a rare sanctuary in today’s tumultuous world: America’s Oldest Retreat for Healing; Isaac Newton’s Lost Papers; Lewis and Tolkien on War and Hope in Hard Times... Each is a delightful read—uplifting your spirit beyond the daily hustle and bustle. Enjoy a full Epoch Times subscription for 6 months for just $1. Sale ends Monday midnight. Subscribe Now >>> How to Survive as Parents and Raise Tough Kids | Pediatrician Between 2016 and 2022, the number of children hospitalized for mental illness in the United States rose by nearly 25 percent, according to national health insurance data. What lifestyle factors... Vital Signs       WATCH NOW CIA Unveils Ghost Murmur Tech Used in Iran; Chinese Satellites Moving Unpredictably in Space | NTD Primetime Primetime       WATCH NOW HEALTH Diving Reflex: A Powerful Way to Enhance Vagal Tone–Here’s How to Activate It       When One Medication Turns Into Many—and How to Prevent It       INSPIRING My Homemade Vegan Pizza Is so Good It Made Me Reconsider Dairy       LIFESTYLE Ask the Builder: Outdoor Kitchen Tips       EPOCH FUN Freecell Solitaire Arrange cards by suit in ascending order to win. PLAY Spot the Difference Find the differences between 2 images. PLAY Word Wipe Create words to eliminate tiles. PLAY

Share this email with a friend. Forward Received this email from a friend? Subscribe Trouble viewing this email? View in browser Copyright © 2026 The Epoch Times, All rights reserved. The Epoch Times. 229 W. 28 St. Fl. 7 New York, NY 10001 | Contact Us * When sharing an article, giftaccess@TheEpochTimes.com is added to the list of recipients. If your friend is not already a subscriber, we will send them a special link for free access to the article. Our Good Evening newsletter helps you catch up on the big stories of the day followed by lifestyle and uplifting content. Manage your email preferences here or unsubscribe from Good Evening here.