Down the Rabbit Hole: The Complicated Process of Investigating Sextortion (REPEAT)

In order to properly investigate and seek justice for sextortion victims, law enforcement and members of their MDTs must jump Down the Rabbit Hole. The presentation will highlight the prevalence of sextortion in the U.S. and abroad, which focuses on the most current statistics, media reports, and what investigators are currently battling in their cases. The course will examine ways to identify and recognize victims of sextortion based on research and law enforcement case studies by defining different forms of sextortion and what social media apps are being used to groom or entice children. The session will explore the psychology behind a victim’s thoughts and fears while being manipulated and controlled by the offender as it relates to self-abuse and suicide. Additionally, the class will focus on the most current investigative trends within social media and financial applications that will help bolster law enforcement investigations by utilizing search warrants, subpoenas, and the collection of vital digital evidence necessary to locate, detain, and convict a target.