Community
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
###
Parents and Teens Warned About Rising Sextortion Scams Targeting Juveniles
| Nature of Incident: | Parents and Teens Warned About Rising Sextortion Scams Targeting Juveniles | ||||
| Report Number: | |||||
| Location(s): | City of Thousand Oaks, California | ||||
| Date: | August 5th, 2026 | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | East County Investigations Bureau: Major Crimes Unit Thousand Oaks Police Department: Community Relations Unit |
||||
| Narrative: | |||||
| The Thousand Oaks Police Department is warning parents and teenagers about a growing online crime known as sextortion, which is increasingly targeting young people through social media platforms, messaging apps, and online gaming. In recent cases, juveniles have been contacted online by individuals posing as teenagers or young adults. After gaining the victim's trust, the suspect convinces the juvenile to send sexually explicit photographs or videos. Once the images are received, the suspect immediately demands money and threatens to send the images to the victim's family members, friends, classmates, or post them publicly if payment is not made. Victims often experience overwhelming fear, embarrassment, and anxiety. Unfortunately, sending money rarely ends the extortion. In many cases, the suspect simply demands additional payments or continues making threats. The Thousand Oaks Police Department encourages parents to have open conversations with their children about online safety. Teens should understand that anyone they meet online may not be who they claim to be, and that once an image is shared electronically, it can be impossible to control where it goes. Parents are encouraged to:
Teens should remember:
If you or your child becomes the victim of sextortion:
The Thousand Oaks Police Department remains committed to protecting children and educating the community about online safety. Parents and guardians are encouraged to stay engaged in their children's digital lives and report suspicious online activity. |
|||||
| Prepared by: | Detective Jon Nungester | ||||
| News Release Date: |
August 5th, 2026 |
||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Jon Nungester 805-341-8344 [email protected] |
||||
| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Albert Ramirez YES NO |
||||
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
###
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511