Many teenagers get messages from people who pretend to be friends online. Sometimes, these people ask for private photos and then say they will share the photos if the teenager does not give them money. This is called sextortion. Some teenagers feel very scared and sad because of this, and some even hurt themselves.

The people who do these scams often live in other countries. They use fake names and pictures to trick teenagers. Some work alone, but some work in groups. They use computers and phones to talk to many people every day. They only want money and do not care about the people they hurt.

Parents and police want to stop these scams, but it is very hard. Social media companies try to help, but many bad people still use their websites. Some parents feel very sad because they cannot find the people who hurt their children. It is important for teenagers to be careful online and talk to someone if they feel scared.